mmm 


t  R\  Arc  lllThCTl  RAL  AND  FINE  ARTS  LIBRARY 
(ill  TOI  Si  VVKH'R  B.  Di  RSI  OlD  YoRK  LlliRARY 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/sketchoffirstsetOOwood_0 


SKETCH 

OF  THE 

FIRST  SETTLEMENT 

OF  THE  SEVERAL  TOWNS  ON 


WITlt  THEIR 

POLITICAL  CONDITION, 

TO  THE 

END    OF    TFIE    AMERICAN  REVOLUTION, 


c  ^ 


"Willi  a,  Uioqii'apliiccil  IVCernoir  and  A-dditions  by 

AL,r)E::sr  j.  spooner. 

Portrait  antl  Photographs  of  Dwellings. 


PRINTED  FOR  THE  FURMAN  CLUB. 
1865, 


200  Copies  of  tuis  work  are  pristep  on  small  papkk. 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE. 


The  very  limited  editions  of  Silas  Wood's  Sketch,  were  published  at  a  time 
when  there  was  a  comparatively  slender  population  in  Brooklyn,  and  upon  the 
rest  of  Long-Island,  and  it  is  believed  a  much  lighter  appreciation  of  the  value 
of  History  than  is  felt  at  the  present  time. 

As  the  benevolent  and  industrious  author  did  not  expect  to  be  reimbursed  for 
his  outlay  in  printing,  and  was  never  in  circumstances  above  the  necessity  and 
wisdom  of  a  careful  economy,  the  paper  and  mechanical  execution  of  the  work 
are  below  its  proper  character  and  dignity. 

It  has  been  thought  but  a  proper  tribute  to  the  earliest  Long-Island  Histo- 
rian, (passing  by  the  descriptive  essay  of  old  Denton  in  1670,)  that  a  fair  and 
sightly  edition  should  be  printed,  with  such  remnants  of  his  life  and  services,  as 
could  be  gathered  after  the  departure  of  most  of  his  contemporaries. 

Long-Island  has,  perhaps,  been  more  fortunate  than  some  portions  of  the 
Union  in  historiographers.  Three  at  least  of  her  sons  have  framed  narratives 
touching  upon  pcunts  throughout  her  length  and  breadth.  That  of  Silas  Wood 
is  devoted  mainly  to  the  first  settlements,  and  first  appeared  in  1824.  Benja- 
min F.  Thompson  followed,  with  his  first  edition  in  a  single  volume,  in  18.39,  and 
his  second  edition,  in  two  volumes,  in  1843.  The  work  of  Mr.  Thompson  is 
characterized  by  great  industry  and  research,  and  is  by  far  the  fullest  reservoir 
of  local  incident,  personal  memoir,  and  genealogical  deduction,  which  has  yet  ap- 
peared. The  history  by  the  Rev.  Xathaniel  S.  Prime,  printed  in  1845,  which 
could  hardly  be  said  to  have  been  published,  as  it  was  kept  from  the  bookstores, 
is  peculiarly  attentive  to  tlie  tlieolngical  record  of  tlie  Ishuul,  of  which  the  ven- 
erable and  diitinguishcil  author,  a  minister  of  several  generatious,  whose  cleri- 
cal generations  follow  him,  was  fitted  to  be  the  annalist.  These  authors  have 
all,  within  twenty  years  past,  found  a  resting  place  in  the  soil  they  loved  and 
celebrated. 

The  labors  of  the  Hon.  Henry  C.  Murphy,  at  home  and  abroad,  (who  fortun- 
ately yet  lives  to  continue  them,)  on  various  points  requiring  thorough  research, 
peculiarly  in  matters  of  Dutch  History,  are  of  the  first  importance  and  value. 

Another  author  survives,  who,  though  not  claiming  the  place  of  a  historian 
by  a  combined  and  symmetrical  work,  is  entitled  to  an  equal  place  with  any  otlier 


IV 


I,oiif;  Isliiml  writer,  for  pi'rsisloiU  interest  and  untiring  imlustry  in  cxiiloring  all 
aoeessil)lc  sources  of  information,  and  for  discrimination  in  the  occasional  use 
of  his  stores  to  ilhistratc  Iiistoric  points.  We  alhidc,  of  course,  to  Henry  On- 
derdonk,  jr.,  of  Jamaica,  L.  I.  His  "  Revohitionary  Incidents  of  Kings,  Queens 
and  Suftblk,"  are  materials  of  pith  and  point,  as  shewing  the  spirit  of  trying 
times.  It  is  hoped  he  may  be  long  spared  to  continue  tho.sc  useful  labors  which 
to  him  are  recreations. 

To  this  list  of  Island  works,  is  to  be  added  a  respectable  numlx-r  of  town  his- 
tories and  special  memoirs,  beginning  with  Gabriel  Furman's  highly  prized 
■  N'otes  on  Brooklyn."  Of  this  a  superior  edition,  learnedly  annotated,  has  re- 
ci  ntly  been  |)u1)lisliod  by  "  Tlie  Faust  Club."  It  is  known  also,  that  an  abler 
and  much  fuller  work  is  in  existence,  by  Henry  R  Stiles,  M.  D.,  which  it  is  to  be 
hoped  may  soon  pass  from  its  chrysalis  state  of  M.S.S. 

Silas  Wood's  Huntington,  Riker's  Newtown,  Strong's  Flatbush,  ilandeville's 
Flushing,  Macdonald's  Jamaica,  Griffin's  Orient,  Lyman  Boechcr's  Sermon  and 
H.  P.  Hedges'  discourse  of  Easthampton,  are  all  eflbrts  in  the  right  direction, 
which  should  be  further  expanded,  and  invite  the  other  towns  to  similar  labors. 

With  these  initiatory  works,  and  others  which  are  to  come,  with  a  Historical 
Society  which  has  already  gathered  a  largo  body  of  materials  in  i'\ cry  depart- 
ment of  research  and  illustration,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  knowledge  may  be 
sought  and  imparted  in  regard  to  our  beautiful  Island,  which  may  make  it  better 
understood  and  known  to  the  increasing  thousands,  who  are  making  it  the  place 
of  their  chosen  homes.  With  a  proper  pride  on  the  part  of  the  citizens,  it  may 
come  to  be  in  the  State,  what  it  was  reported  to  be  by  the  inhabitants  of  New- 
Amsterdam  to  those  of  Old  Amsterdam,  "  the  crown,  of  the  province." 


e3"Favraan's  Notes  >>n  r,i,.nkl\ii,  icin-inted  at  this  office,  and  some  of 
the  same  type  employ. -1  j-  In  il,.  Mii.in;,!  .  ilition,  which  was  also  here  printed. 

It  may  please  the  cm  I'iM-  h.  kii..n.  th.it  tlie  same  course  has  been  pursued 
with  the  present  volinm  ,  all  thr  editions  having  been  printed  at  this  office. 


BIOG-RAPHICAL  SKETCH 


OF  THE 

HONORABLE  SILAS  WOOD. 


If  history  has  one  duty  superior  to  another,  it  is  that  of  rescuing 
from  oblivion,  and  preserving  for  posterity,  the  pattern  and  example 
of  those  men  who,  without  selfishness  or  ambition,  have  devoted 
themselves  to  gathering  the  memorials  and  remnants  of  the  past, 
for  the  benefit  of  later  generations.  In  this  class  was  peculiarly  to 
be  named  the  Hon.  Silas  Wood,  wluwe  name  and  fame  Long- 
Island  will  not  willingly  "let  di<',"  ■  •i-;h  he  has  himself  done 
his  utmost  to  escape  personal  noU';    .  aJ  commendation. 

Silas  Wood,  author  of  the  Sketch,  &c.,  was  born  at  West  Hills, 
in  the  town  of  Huniington,  Suffolk  Co.,  L.  I.,  September  14,  1*769. 

Jonas  Wood,  the  ancestor  of  the  family  in  this  country,  came 
from  Halifax,  in  England,  between  1630  and  1640,  He  was  among 
the  first  settlers  of  Hempstead,  and  is  named  in  the  patent  of  that 
town  in  1644. 

He  removed  to  Southampton,  Suffolk  Co.,  L.  I.,  about  1649,  and 
from  thence  to  the  town  of  Huntington,  about  1655,  at  a  place 
called  West  Hills,  near  the  borders  of  Queens,  about  five  miles 
south  of  the  present  village  of  Huntington.  He  purchased  the 
eastern  half  of  Copiague,  and  the  Five  Necks  east  of  it,  in  165,7. 

He  was  one  of  the  deputies  appointed  to  go  to  New-Haven,  to 
solicit  a  union  with  that  Colony,  in  1658,  and  is  mentioned  in  the 
town  records  the  20th  April,  1G60.  An  act  of  Joanna,  his  widow 
and  administratrix,  is  mentioned  the  18th  of  May  following,  from 
which  it  appears  that  he  died  between  the  20th  April  and  the  18th 
May,  1660.  A  family  tradition  informs  us  that  he  was  drowned  in 
attempting  to  ford  the  Peconic  River  at  or  near  Riverhead. 

The  materials  are  too  scanty  to  enable  us  to  pursue  his  genealogy 
with  accuracy  in  this  sketch. 


VI 


A  lineal  dcsfenclant  of  Jonas,  was  Joshua  AVood,  of  Unntini^toii, 
Lorn  October  12,  171G,  who  died  September  6,  1779,  a!j;ed  ()3.  lie 
was  married  to  Ruth  Wood,  born  May  2G,  1724,  who  died  August 
29,  1807,  aged  84. 

These  two  last  named  were  the  father  and  mother  of  Samuel, 
Selah,  and  Silas  Wood,  the  two  first  being  respectable  farmers,  the 
last  and  youngest  being  desthied  to  pursue  the  associated  ciireer  of 
lawyer,  statesman,  and  historian,  whicli,  with  no  other  ambition  on 
his  part  than  for  usefulness,  will  long  liold  him  in  the  public 
memory. 

Uis  years,  to  thirteen,  were  spent  in  Iluiiliiiglou,  wlieii  he  was 
sent  for  tuition  to  the  llev.  Mr.  Talmage,  of  J5rookha\en,  with 
wliom  he  continued  two  years.  At  fifteen,  he  went  to  Fairfield, 
Conn.,  where  he  continued  one  year,  and  at  sixteen  entered  Prince- 
ton College,  N.  J.,  then  under  the  Presidency  of  the  learned  Dr. 
Witherspoon.  Here  he  continued  four  years,  and  pursued  a  full 
course  of  classical  studies.  He  is  said,  though  so  young,  to  have 
taken  the  first  position  in  his  class,  and  to  have  graduated  with  the 
highest  honors.  He  was  then  chosen  a  tutor  in  the  college,  and 
continued  such  for  five  years,  severely  impairing  his  health  by  his 
duties  and  his  devotion  to  general  literature.  In  1795,  when  twenty- 
six  years  old,  and  two  years  after  he  had  left  Princeton,  he  was 
elected  to  the  Assembly  of  this  State,  from  Suftblk  County.  lie 
continued  to  serve  for  four  years,  taking  an  active  and  originative 
part  in  the  business  of  the  house.  He  introduced  the  bills  for  the 
formation  of  social  libraries,  relative  to  the  Treasurer's  office,  when 
the  office  of  Comptroller  was  first  established,  and  a  new  organiza- 
tion of  the  Treasury  Department  was  made.  As  chairman  of  a 
joint  committee,  he  introduced  the  first  general  Highway  Act, 
which  has  since  prevailed  in  the  State,  with  some  amendments,  and 
the  exemption  of  a  few  counties  which  have  secured  special  acts. 

After  leaving  the  Assembly,  he  spent  a  few  years  in  forming  a 
settlement  on  some  lands  which  he  owned  in  the  northern  part  of 
Johnstown.  W^hile  here,  in  1802,  at  thirty-two  years  of  age,  he 
married  Catharine  Huyck,  whose  parents  were  from  Kinderhook. 
This  young  lady  was  born  November  18,  1785,  and  died  July  18, 
1803,  the  year  after  her  marriage,  at  the  early  age  of  oigliteen, 
leaving  an  infant  son  who  survived  her  but  three  days. 

A  friend  writes:  "  1  nm  not  positive  that  this  lady  died  in  Johns- 


VII 


town.  Iler  dcatli  \v;i<  vorv  smlJon,  while,  they  were  on  a  journey 
tliroiin-h  some  wilJ<'rih'->  in  ^^'lut^■lllnery  County.  He  had  to  bury 
her  without  any  ciri'/.jcd  as-istam-e.  This  ineident  had  the  effect  to 
partly  unliinge  his  mind  ;  some  supposed  it  produced  occasional 
insanilv,  hut  I  douljt  whether  the  affection  went  to  that  extent." 

This  sudden  affliction,  after  a  union  founded  upon  the  warmest 
sentiments  of  love  and  admiration,  is  known  to  have  made  a  pro- 
found impression  upon  the  deei)ly  impressible  and  atl'ectionate 
nature  of  Mr.  Wood,  to  have  solemnized  him  to  a  stronger  sense  of 
duty  in  this  life,  and  elevated  his  thoughts  of  the  future. 

In  1804,  he  was  offered  the  place  of  Principal  in  the  Academy 
at  Esopus,  at  a  salary  of  $500,  and  in  1805,  be  was  chosen  a  Pro- 
fessor in  Union  College,  Schenectady,  at  $800.  Each  of  these 
positions  he  declined.  Determining  to  pursue  the  kw  as  a  profes- 
sion, he  entered  the  office  of  Daniel  Cady,  Esq.,  of  Johnstown. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  Supreme  Court  on  the  15th  February, 
1810,  his  license  being  dated  on  that  day,  and  signed  by  the  Hon. 
James  Kent,  then  Chief  Justice  of  that  Court. 

He  was  made  a  Master  in  Chancery  March  2d,  1810,  Daniel  D. 
Tompkins  being  Governor;  a  solicitor  in  Chancery  May  25,  1813, 
Hon.  John  Lansing  then  being  Chancellor. 

Immediately  after  his  admission,  a  partnershij)  was  proposed  to 
him  by  his  legal  instructor,  Daniel  Cady,  which  he  accepted.  It 
continued  till  the  spring  of  1813.  Besides  attending  to  the  busi- 
ness of  the  office,  he  found  time  to  take  part  in  public  affairs,  and 
contributed  largely  to  the  columns  of  the  Montgomery  Jtejmblican, 
then  a  very  influential  journal.  In  the  spring  of  18i3,  he  returned 
to  Huntington,  and  there  practised  his  profession.  In  November, 
181V,  he  was  elected  by  the  people  of  his  district  (the  First  Con- 
gressional District)  as  their  Representative  in  the  XVIth  Congress, 
and  look  his  seat  March  4,  1819.  Here  he  was  continued  for  five 
successive  terms— the  XVIth,  XVlIth,  XYIIIth,  XlXth,  and  XXth 
Congresses — a  period  of  ten  years,  which  includes  the  latter  half  of 
Mr.  Monroe's  first  term,  the  whole  of  his  second,  and  the  whole  of 
the  term  of  John  Quincy  Adams,  ^n  1828,  after  declining  a  re- 
nomination,  he  was  persuaded  to  stand,  by  the  strongly  exj^ressed 
desires  of  his  constituents.  In  this  election  he  was  defeated  by 
Hon.  James  Lent,  yiOo  votes  against  2831,  and  served  his  last 
term  in  1829. 


VIM 


Diiriiiuj  tlie  most  of  liis  time,  in  Conj^ress,  he  was  on  tlie  Libiary 
Committee,  whicli,  though  an  unpretentious  .committee,  attracting 
little  public  notice,  was  well  suited  to  his  tastes,  and  upon  which 
his  kuitwledgc  of  books  and  literature  enabled  liim  to  be  extremely 
nsi't'iil.  His  strict  views  of  duty  did  not  allow  him  to  neglect  any 
of  till'  public  business  wliile  lie  was  there. 

His  principal  speeches  while  in  the  House  were: 
On  the  question  of  admitting  Missouri  into  the  Union,  delivered 
February  14,  1820.  He  spoke  upon  the  amendments  in\  i>lving  the 
(ixclusion  of  slavery.  This  amendment  he  sustained  in  a  learned, 
earnest,  and  thorough  argument,  in  the  course  uf  which  his  convic- 
tions against  slavery  as  a  moral  and  political  element,  were  deci- 
sively expressed. 

January  21,  1824  :  lie  spoke  a'jainst  tlic  resolution  that  Congress 
ouglit  to  provide  by  law  for  lU'frax  in.;-  iln'  expenses  incident  to  the 
appointment  of  an  Agent  or  Ciinunis-iinii  r  to  Greece,  whenever 
tlie  President  should  deem  it  expedient  to  make  sm  li  appoiutmenL 
lie  opposed  this  resolution  in  a  speech  whicli  is  pcrliap^  tiie  most 
brilliant  of  his  Congressional  performances.  In  this  he  shows  with 
great  foresight  and  power  of  reasoning,  the  dangers  of  speedy  dis- 
solution, if  tlio  T'nitcd  States  slioiild  intervrnc  as  the  arbiter  and 
champinii  cif  Lil.i'!i\  all  "vri-  the  \\..iM,  in-tcad  ot'  keeping  at  homo 
and  promoting  ii  by  just  princijilcs  and  moral  example.  A  learned 
gentleman,  elsewhere  alluded  to,  who  represented  the  same  district 
in  Congress  with  distinction,  says,  "  His  speech  on  the  subject  of 
sending  aid  to  the  Greeks,  was  a  very  able  one,  and  excited  very 
general  applause.  I  heard  it  greatly  applauded  iu  Washington 
many  years  after  it  had  been  delivered  in  Congress." 

April  2,  1824,  his  speech  on  the  Tarifl'.  Iu  this,  he  argues  with 
great  force  and  clearness  the  desirableness  of  protection  to  Ameri- 
can manufactures,  and  particularly  the  policy  of  being  independent 
of  other  nations  in  regard  to  articles  of  which  we  might  be  deprived 
in  case  of  war.  Upon  this  point,  the  following  sentout'c  is  an  axiom 
■which  recent  events  have  made  jieculiarlv  wurtliv  nf  alti^ition : 

_    "The  establishments  n  '-ary  Inr  the  fal.iieali.Mi  of  elulhing 

and  arms,  should  be  intri"luced  at  any  saerilicc.  Xo  imaginary 
advantage  to  be  derived  from  clieaiH  i-  pnHluctions,  would  compen- 
sate for  the  mischiefs  that  would  re-ult  Iruiu  the  want  of  the  means 
of  self-subsistence  and  self-defence  in  time  of  war." 


IX 


May  U,  1826.  On  the  resolutions  of  Mr.  McDuffie,  that  the 
Constitution  ouo-ht  to  be  amended  so  as  to  prevent  the  election  of 
President  and  Vice-President  from  devolving  on  Congress  ;  and 
that  a  uniform  system  of  voting  by  Districts  ouglit  to  be  established 
in  all  the  States,  tlie  number  of  Districts  in  each  State  to  equal  the 
number  of  Senators  and  Representatives  to  which  such  State  may 
be  entitled  in  Congress,  and  each  District  having  one  vote. 

These  resolutions  Mr.  Wood  opposed,  as  having  a  tendency  to 
deprive  the  States  of  power,  and  augment  the  power  and  influence 
of  the  General  Government.  His  analysis  of  the  Constitution,  and 
discrimination  of  the  differing  powers  of  the  National  and  State 
Governments,  are  masterly. 

April  5,  1826.  On  the  resolution  that  it  was  expedient  to  appro- 
priate the  funds  necessary  to  enable  the  President  of  the  United 
States  to  send  Ministers  to  the  Congress  of  Panama,  and  the  amend- 
ment of  Mr.  Mc  Lane,  of  Delaware,  that  the  Ministers  who  might 
be  sent  should  attend  in  a  diplomatic  character  merely,  and  not  be 
authorized  to  discuss  any  proposition  of  alliance  between  this  coun- 
try and  the  Spanish  American  Government,  Mr.  "Wood  sustained 
the  Resolution,  and  opposed  the  Amendment.  He  held  that  it  was 
sound  policy  to  cultivate  the  best  relations  of  friendship  and  com- 
merce with  the  Spanish  American  nations  ;  and  that  the  President 
and  the  Senate  having  agreed  to  send  Ministers,  the  House  had  no 
right  to  interfere  with  the  treaty-making  power  in  the  manner  pro- 
posed by  the  Amendment.  Incidentally,  he  discusses  the  whole 
question  with  the  broadest  comprehension  of  all  its  relations. 

Each  of  his  speeches  is  a  series  of  distinct  propositions,  thoroughly 
fortified  by  ancient  and  modern  precedents  and  examples.  There 
are  in  them  no  appeals  to  passion  or  prejudice,  nor  the  most  distant 
allusion  to  any  constituency  less  broad  than  the  Union.  They  are 
succinct  and  pointed,  evincing  most  diligent  and  careful  preparation, 
and  read  like  treatises  or  essays. 

There  are  no  speeches  of  the  tinie  more  valuable  for  a  full,  clear, 
and  fair  exposition  of  the  phase  of  the  subject  he  intends  to  discuss. 

It  is  difficult  to  say  when  he  first  began  to  gather  materials  for 
his  "  Sketch."  It  is  probable  that  he  was  engaged  in  this  work 
some  eight  or  ten  years  before  he  considered  it  completed.  Very 
few,  not  accustomed  to  historical  explorations,  can  comprehend  the 
time  and  labor  required  to  ascertain  facts,  to  weigh  properly  their 


VIII 


DiiriiliX  tlie  most  of  liis  tinu-  in  Coii:frc\ss,  ho  was  on  tlio  I  ibrary 
Committee,  which,  thougli  an  uium  teiitious  .committee,  attracting 
little  public  notice,  was  well  suited  to  his  tastes,  and  upon  whicdi 
his  knowledge  of  books  and  literature  enabled  him  to  be  extremely 
useful.  His  strict  views  of  duty  did  not  allow  liiin  to  neglect  any 
of  the  public  business  while  he  was  there. 

His  principal  speeches  while  in  the  House  were: 

On  the  question  of  admitting  Missouri  ititi>  the  Union,  delivered 
February  14,  1820.  He  spoke  upon  the  anicndinents  in\  iilving  the 
exclusion  of  slavery.  This  amendment  he  sustained  in  a  learned, 
earnest,  and  thorough  argument,  in  the  course  uf  which  his  convic- 
tions against  slavery  as  a  moral  and  political  element,  were  deci- 
sively expressed. 

January  21, 1824  :  He  spoke  against  the  resolution  that  Congress 
ought  to  provide  by  law  for  defraying  the  expenses  incident  to  the 
appointment  of  an  Agent  or  Commissioner  to  Greece,  whenever 
the  President  should  deem  it  expedient  to  make  such  appointment. 
He  opposed  this  resolution  in  a  speech  which  is  pcrliap-  the  most 
brilliant  of  his  ConnTessional  performances.  In  this  he  shows  with 
great  fore-i^-ht  and  power  of  reasoning,  the  dangers  of  speedy  dis- 
solution, if  the  United  States  should  intervene  as  the  arbiter  and 
chainpion  of  Liberty  all  over  the  world,  instead  of  keeping  at  home 
and  promoting  it  by  just  principles  and  moral  example.  A  learned 
gentleman,  clseAvhoiv  alluded  to,  who  represented  the  same  district 
in  Congress  with  distinction,  says,  "  His  speech  on  the  subject  of 
sending  aid  to  the  Greeks,  was  a  very  able  one,  and  excited  very 
general  applause.  I  heard  it  greatly  applauded  in  Washington 
many  years  after  it  had  been  delivered  in  Congress." 

April  2,  1824,  his  speech  on  the  Tariti".  In  this,  he  argues  with 
great  force  and  clearness  the  desirableness  of  protection  to  Ameri- 
can manufactures,  and  particularly  the  policy  of  being  independent 
of  other  nations  in  regard  to  articles  of  which  we  might  be  deprived 
in  case  of  war.  Upon  this  point,  the  following  sentence  is  an  axiom 
which  recent  events  have  made  peculiarly  worthy  of  attention: 

"  The  establishments  necessary  for  the  fabrication  of  clothing 
and  arms,  should  be  introduced  at  any  sacrifice.  No  imaginary 
advantage  to  be  derived  from  cheaper  produi-tions,  wouM  compen- 
sate for  the  mischiefs  that  would  result  from  the  want  of  the  means 
of  self-subsistence  and  self-defence  in  time  of  war." 


IX 


M:iv  14,  1S26.  Oil  the  resolutions  of  Mr.  McDuffie,  that  the 
(.''.ii-ti:  ii;i->ii  ouii'lit  to  be  ainended  so  as  to  prevent  the  election  of 
l'iv>idi;iii  :uid  Vice-l'resideiit  from  devolving  on  Congress;  and 
tliat  a  uiiifjnii  >v-tein  of  votinu'  by  Districts  ought  to  be  established 
in  all  the  State>,  the  number  of  Districts  in  each  State  to  equal  the 
number  of  Senators  and  Representatives  to  which  sucb  State  may 
be  entitled  in  Congress,  and  each  District  having  one  vote. 

These  resolutions  Mr.  Wood  opposed,  as  having  a  tendenc}'  to 
deprive  the  States  of  power,  and  augment  the  power  and  influence 
of  the  General  Government.  His  analysis  of  the  Constitution,  and 
discrimination  of  the  differing  powers  of  the  National  and  State 
Governments,  are  masterly. 

April  5,  1826.  On  the  resolution  that  it  was  expedient  to  appro- 
priate the  funds  necessary  to  enable  the  President  of  the  United 
States  to  send  Ministers  to  the  Congress  of  Panama,  and  tlie  amend- 
ment of  Mr.  McLane,  of  Delaware,  that  the  Minister>  who  might 
be  sent  should  attend  in  a  diplomatic  character  merely,  and  not  be 
authorized  to  discuss  any  proposition  of  alliance  between  this  coun- 
try and  the  Spanish  American  Government,  Mr.  Wood  sustained 
the  Resolution,  and  opposed  the  Amendment.  He  held  that  it  was 
sound  policy  to  cultivate  the  best  relations  of  friendship  and  com- 
merce with  the  Spanish  American  nations  ;  and  that  the  President 
and  the  Senate  having  agreed  to  send  Ministers,  the  House  had  no 
right  to  interfere  with  the  treaty-making  power  in  the  manner  pro- 
posed by  the  Amendment.  Incidentally,  he  discusses  the  whole 
question  with  the  broadest  comprehension  of  all  its  relation-. 

Each  of  his  speeches  is  a  series  of  distinct  propositi<jns,  thoroughly 
foi-tified  by  ancient  and  modern  precedents  and  examples.  There 
are  in  them  no  appeals  to  passion  or  prejudice,  nor  the  most  distant 
allusion  to  any  constituency  less  broad  than  the  Union.  They  are 
succinct  and  pointed,  evincing  most  diligent  and  careful  preparation, 
and  read  like  treatises  or  essays. 

There  are  no  speeches  of  the  time  more  valuable  for  a  fu,ll,  clear, 
and  fair  exposition  of  the  phase  of  the  subject  he  intends  to  discuss. 

It  is  difficult  to  say  when  he  first  began  to  gather  materials  for 
his  "  Sketch."  It  is  probable  that  he  was  engaged  in  this  work 
some  eight  or  ten  years  before  lie  considered  it  completed.  Very 
few,  not  accustomed  to  historical  explorations,  can  comprehend  the 
time  and  labor  required  to  ascertain  facts,  to  weigh  properly  their 


X 


importance,  and  give  tliciii  their  true  jilace  in  the  narrative.  The 
mind  of  Sihis  Wood  was  too  faithful  to  stop  short  of  the  fullest 
eiidcavor.  It  was  industrious,  compreliensive,  patient,  eager,  and 
analytical.  He  was  constant  in  the  pursuit  of  any  information  he 
required,  and  when  it  was  obtained,  it  was  subjected  to  the  most 
thorough  sifting,  none  but  the  vital  parts  being  retained.  What- 
ever other  histories  of  the  Island  have  been  or  may  be,  this  Sketch 
has  not  been  and  will  not  be  exceeded  as  a  work  of  thorough  labor, 
faithful  discrimination,  and  honest  judgment. 

I  add  here  a  letter  to  his  brother  historian,  Benjamin  F.  Thomp- 
son, Esi[.,  alluding  to  the  sources  of  authority  consulted  by  him : 

Huntington,  August  6,  1841. 

"  Dear  Sir  : — It  may  be  of  some  benefit  for  you  to  know  the 
sources  from  which  I  derived  the  facts  in  my  Sketch  of  the  First 
Settlement  of  Long-Island. 

"1.  I  in  person  examined  the  Clerks'  Offices  of  every  town  on 
the  Island,  a  number  of  them  twice,  and  one  or  more  of  them  three 
times. 

"  2.  The  ofKces  of  the  various  counties  three  times. 

"  3.  The  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  twice,  particularly  in 
relation  to  the  early  Dutch  Records  translated  by  Vanderkemp; 
the  Journals  of  the  Provincial  Congress ;  the  Records  of  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council,  under  the  Colony,  and  the  Records  of  the^  first 
Assemblies, 

"  4.  The  Records  of  the  Dutch  Church  in  New-York,  and, 
directly  or  indirectly,  of  other  churches ;  also  the  early  records  of 
the  difterent  Courts. 

"  5.  The  N.  Y.  City  Library,  the  Library  of  the  Historical  Soci- 
ety, New- York,  and  the  Congressional  Library,  Washington  ;  How- 
ard's Collection  of  the  Records  of  the  New-England  Colonies  ;  the 
Collection  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Massachusetts;  Cotton 
Mather's  Magnalia ;  Trumbull's  History  of  Connecticut,  and  all,  or 
ahnost  all  the  histories  which  have  been  written  in  New-England 
relative  to  the  early  settlement  of  those  States,  with  tlie  biographi- 
cal sketches  of  the  first  settlers,  the  most  of  which  I  found  in  the 
library  of  Congress. 

"  I  obtained  considerable  information  relative  to  our  first  ances- 
tors, from  AVinthrop's  Journal,  Mather's  Magnalia,  Hubbard's  His- 


XI 


tory  of  New-England,  Trunibuirs  History  of  Connecticut,  and  tLe 
catalogues  of  the  early  colleges. 

"  6.  I  also  got  friends  and  correspondents  to  examine  the  records 
of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  of  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island,  of 
the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  of  the  towns  of  Concord,  Fair- 
field, and  Newark. 

"  7.  I  also  had  recourse  to  family  records,  old  wills  and  deeds, 
to  the  inscriptions  on  tombstones  in  the  old  burial  grounds,  and  in 
a  few,  but  very  few  instances,  to  family  traditions.  I  admitted  no 
fact  not  supported  by  some  one  or  other  of  these  authorities, 
although  it  may  be  that  in  a  few  instances,  as  in  that  of  Mr.  Den- 
ton, I  may  have  been  misled  by  them. 

"  Respectfully  Yours, 

"  SILAS  WOOD." 

B  F.  Thompson,  Esq. 

When  the  distant  points  are  considered  at  which  these  authori- 
ties had  to  be  reached,  it  must  be  for  those  who  have  performed 
similar  labors,  to  appreciate  the  devotion  of  the  author,  and  the 
sacrifices  made  by  him  to  confer  this  gift  upon  the  people  of  his 
native  Island. 

Mr.  Thompson,  whose  History  is  very  valuable  for  its  details,  and 
accumulates  a  large  body  of  minute  modern  information,  with  much 
of  personal  memoir  and  anecdote,  gratified  his  own  feelings  and 
sense  of  justice,  by  dedicating  his  first  edition  to  Silas  Wood,  whose 
work,  more  closely  limited  to  the  early  settlements,  may  be  said  to 
be  dissolved  and  absorbed  in  the  two  respectable  volumes  of  Mr. 
Thompson,  with  but  slight  modifications.  Mr.  Wood,  while  aiding 
Mr.  Thompson  by  every  means  in  his  power,  requested  that  the 
dedicatory  compliment  should  be  omitted  from  the  second  edition. 
It  was  from  no  disrespect  to  Mr.  Thompson,  but  the  result  of  mod- 
esty and  self-abnegation.  Mr.  Wood  was  always  characterised  by 
modesty,  simplicity,  and  plainness.  When  Mr.  Thompson's  books 
were  published,  he  was  endeavoring  more  than  ever  to  strip  from 
himself  every  "robe  of  pride,"  and  to  "clothe  himself  with  humil- 
ity." 

From  June  12,  1818,  until  some  time  in  1821,  he  was  District 
Attorney  of  Suffolk  County,  by  appointment  of  De  Witt  Clinton, 
Governor. 

In  December,  1829,  he  took  for  his  second  wife  Elizabeth,  daugh- 


tor  otMosiuli  Sinitli,  of  Long  Swiimp.  13y  a  mysterious  I'mvideiieo, 
be  bad  by  tbis,  as  by  bis  former  marriage,  but  one  cbikl,  wbo  died 
also  in  early  infancy.  lie  was  tbns  left  witb  no  descendants  to  in- 
herit Ills  lamls,  or  to  enjoy  tbat  better  j)atrimoiiy  of  tlie  public 
respect  for  Iiis  ciuiracter  and  labors. 

His  "  SUi'ti'h  "  was  promulgati'd  in  three  editions,  all  of  wbicb 
were  printed  and  pulilisbed  in  ]>r()i)klyn,  by  Col.  Alden  Spooner; 
tbe  first  in  1824,  in  66  pages,  octavo  ;  the  second  in  182G,  in  112 
pages;  tbe  third  in  1828,  in  183  pages.  The  first  edition  was  of 
250  copies;  tbe  second  and  third  of  but  100  eupics,  each — which 
last  were  ordered  by  its  conscientious  writer,  in  (H.h  r  to  do  fuller 
justice  to  tbe  memory  of  General  Woodluill,  by  the  ani}i]er  memoir 
in  tbe  Appendix. 

This  book,  now  so  rare,  and  commanding  so  high  a  price,  was  of 
very  slow  sale.  The  sheets  of  several  copies  remained  unclaimed 
in  tbe  bands  of  tbe  binder,  until  a  year  or  two  ago,  when  they  were 
discovered  by  a  mousing  owl  of  the  L.  I.  Historical  Society,  and 
"  snapped  up."  The  views  of  the  author — who  himself  paid  the 
principal  expenses  of  tbe  printing — were  amjily  satisfied  in  sending 
his  copies  to  an  appreciative  few  on  the  Island  and  elsewhere, 
knowing  that  in  good  time  the  tree  be  had  so  carefully  planted  and 
pruned,  would  produce  fruit  which  the  coming  generations  would 
enjoy. 

In  the  Spring  of  1830,  Silas  Wood  formally  relinquished  his  pro- 
fessional pursuits  and  public  life,  and  determined  to  devote  himself 
to  meditations  which  had  huig  pressed  themselves  upon  his  mind 
as  of  higher  import  than  earthly  ambitions.  One  inducement  to 
■withraw  from  the  toils  of  liis  profession  might  have  been  the  funda- 
mental change  which  took  place  in  the  law  system  of  tbe  State,  by 
substituting  the  partial  Codification,  termed  the  Revised  Statutes, 
for  the  great  body  of  the  Common  Law,  to  which  the  older  prac- 
titioners had  grown  accustomed.  Certain  it  is,  that  this  ^leat  re- 
form affected  Silas  AVood  disagreeably.  lie  was  tui,  tu  adapt 
himself  to  the  changes.  The  writer,  then  a  student,  recollects  his 
observations  on  the  subject.  He  remembers  very  well  the  pleasant 
and  jocular  tone  in  which  he  said,  "  it  may  do  very  well  for  you 
young  folks,  but  as  for  us  old  fellows,  we  might  as  well  give  up!" 
He  did  give  up,  sold  his  library,  and  was  no  longer  seen  in  the 
courts. 


XIII 


Again,  there  were  some  things  in  the  fashions  of  politics  which 
as  little  suited  him.  A  sect  of  politicians  was  desirous  of  his  lead- 
ership. These  would  not  nominate  without  certain  pledges.  To  a 
man  of  the  crystalline  honor  and  purity  of  Silas  Wood,  the  whole 
system  of  pledges  was  disgusting  and  revolting.  He  refused  to  an- 
swer a  schedule  of  questions  submitted  to  him,  saying  that  he  was 
no  seeker  of  office,  and  if  his  public  character  was  not  the  assurance 
and  guarantee  needed,  he  did  not  need  the  party  who  sought  him. 
He  was  an  old-fashioned  actor,  whose  pure  style  was  no  longer  in 
vogue,  and  who  was  at  least  free  from  the  common  error  of  loitering 
too  late  upon  the  public  stage. 

These,  with  other  recollections  more  grateful,  linger  in  the  mind 
of  the  writer,  whose  acquaintance  with  Silas  Wood  began  in  1824, 
when  the  writer  was  about  fourteen  years  old,  and  Mr  "\\'ood  was 
in  Brooklyn,  superintending  the  publication  of  his  first  edition. 
Can  the  writer  ever  forget  the  quiet  cordiality  and  simplicity  with 
which,  fiom  the  moment  of  meeting,  he  put  himself  entirely  upon 
easj'^  terms  witli  a  boy  who  beheld  him  for  the  first  time,  and  held 
this  boy  enchanted  with  pleasant  stories,  and  simple  pniKh-ms  in 
science,  intended  to  entertain  the  mind,  and  to  call  intn  exercise 
its  practical  (jualities  ?  I  perfectly  recollect,  among  other  things,  a 
sort  of  West  Point  disquisition,  in  which  he  demonstrated  to  me, 
with  pencil  upon  paper,  the  force  of  certain  prc_>jeetiles,  and  described 
the  "  parabolic  curves  "  they  would  make  in  passing  through  tli<' 
air,  till  they  descended  upon  their  destined  object.  If  the  writer 
could  have  imagined  what  he  has  since  witnesssed,  he  would  have 
taken  these  lessons  more  to  heart.  lie  must  have  been  an  admira- 
ble teacher. 

The  writer  never  could  lose  the  feeling  of  right  to  his  fellowship. 
A  little  while  after  his  announced  retirement  into  absolute  seclu- 
sion, his  stoppage  of  his  newspapers,  and  sale  of  his  library,  the 
writer,  while  on  a  business  errand  to  Huntington,  ventured  to  break 
in  upon  his  old  friend.  Did  he  not  find  him  changed  i  Not  a 
whit !  Yes,  a  little,  and  that  was  as  to  his  exterior  garb.  Plain  as 
he  always  was,  his  attire  was  now  the  perfection  of  disiegard  <>f 
dress — the  very  costume  of  one  who  had  ceased  to  care  for  the  ex- 
terior things  of  life  and  men.  But  he  doffed  his  slouched  hat  im- 
pulsively— dragged  his  visitor  into  his  antique,  unpainted,  low- 
roofed,  shinolcd  house,  and  commenced  to  talk  bv  the  hour.  All 
4 


XIV 


Lis  fiiniiruir  friends  agree  that  there  were  few  better  talkers  than 
Sihis  Wood.  There  have  been  some,  hke  Coleridge,  who  were 
more  bold,  imaginative,  and  sparkling,  but  few  were  so  clear,  affec- 
tionate, and  persuasive.  Some  cotemporarics  of  Silas  Wood  yet 
live,  who  will  agree  with  me  that  few  men  of  his  time  could  so 
enchain  a  friend  by  the  dexterity  and  charm  of  his  conversation. 
Conversation  wilii  him  was  not  monologue.  It  was  a  justly  harmo- 
nized dialogue.  It  was  sympathetic,  delicate,  reciprocal,  inquisitive, 
suggestive.  He  drew  his  colloqnist  out  in  the  best  way — giving 
him  every  motive  and  opportunity  for  tlic  fullest  cxjiression. 

But  there  must  have  been  more  tli.-m  tln'  >  li;niL;('s  in  law  and 
politics,  to  induce  the  retirement  intu  M_'rhisiun  of  such  a  man  as 
Silas  Wood.  His  mind  :ilua\^  dear  as  to  the  Divine  source  of 
Light  and  Consolation,  HMiluiiliirilly  turned  implicitly  in  that  direc- 
tion from  piMuiiaiit  atlli.  tions  and  disappointments  of  the  tenderest 
character.  lH  siilr>,  at  sixty  years  old,  it  was  time  to  part  with 
earthly  ambitions.  It  would  not  have  been  unlike  his  chastened 
tastes  and  sentiments,  if  he  had  early  made  it  a  part  of  his  plan  of 
life  to  retire  at  sixty,  and  by  confining  himself  to  books  of  religion 
and  moral  science,  and  to  his  farm, 

"  To  liusljand  out  life's  taper  to  the  close, 
And  keep  the  flame  from  wasting  b}-  repose."  - 

Certain  it  is  that  lie  did  close  u]>,  as  far  as  was  easily  practicable, 
without  assuming  the  character  of  a  hermit,  every  avenue  of  tlie 
external  world,  particuhuly  that  wide  avenue  of  the  newspaper,  and 
exchanged  his  law  books  fui-  an  excellent  and  profourul  selection  of 
works  on  theology.  To  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  these  works,  he 
gave  all  his  leisure  time  for  reading. 

I  have  his  catalogue  before  me.  It  comprises  one  hundred  and 
eighty-two  works,  admirably  well  selected.  It  is  headed :  "  Reli- 
gious books  belonging  to  the  Library  of  Silas  Wood,"  and  classified: 

"The  Iluly  Bible,  Comuicntaries  on  it,  and  works  in  vindication  of 
the  truth,  inspii'atidn,  and  doctrines  of  it." 

"  Bnoks  connected  with  the  Bible,  and  illustrating  the  History 
of  the  Bible  and  of  the  Church." 

"  Sermons  and  Treatises." 

"  Practical  Works." 

"  Biography." 

Among  these  books  arc  four  editions  of  the  Bible,  Patrick  and 


XV 


Louth's  "  Commentaries,"  "  Henry  on  tlie  whole  Bible,"  Scott, 
Newton  "  on  the  Prophecies,"  Shuckford's  "  Connection  of  Sacred 
and  Profane  History,"  Prideaux's  "Connection  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament,"  Witherspoon's,  Edwards's,  Bellamy's,  Dwight's,  Davis's, 
Walker's  Works,  &c.,  <S:c.  The  value  attached  to  these,  at  a  low 
cost,  is  $317  75. 

The  most  of  these  books  he  bequeathed  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  congregation  of  Sweet  Hollow,  near  Huntington.  This 
was  an  old  congregation,  but  organized  under  the  General  Church 
Act,  on  the  24th  of  June,  1843. 

Silas  Wood  was,  in  appearance,  a  little  above  the  average  height, 
say  five  feet  ten  inches  high,  of  a  brownish  complexion,  weighing 
160  or  170  pounds.  He  was  erect  in  carriage,  with  broad  shoulders 
and  fine  forehead.  The  expression  of  his  countenance  was  amiable, 
but  indicative  of  great  firmness  and  decision.  Jn  conversation,  he 
was  more  animated  than  in  public  speaking.  His  features  then 
sparkled  with  the  various  and  unreserved  play  of  his  mind,  not  re- 
strained by  any  weight  of  public  responsibility.  In  his  younger 
days,  and  during  his  political  career,  he  was  neat  and  plain  in  his 
attire,  but  in  his  latter  years  quite  negligent  in  this  respect.  A 
leading  lawyer  in  Suffolk  says,  "  ln'  caiiir  to  my  weiirnig  (in  his 
later  years)  in  a  handsome  suit  of  Ma^'k  hvna<i'-lt)lli,  but  his  shirt- 
bosom  and  cravat  were  much  worn  and  frayed  out."  The  same 
gentleman  also  writes ;  "  In  taste  he  was  a  great  admirer  of  female 
beauty,  and  frequently  entertained  my  sisters  with  minute  descrip- 
tions of  the  belles  of  Washington.  He  was  exceedingly  fluent  in 
conversation,  always  entertaining,  and  generally  instructive." 

"  When  I  commenced  the  jiraetioe  of  my  profession,  Mr.  Wood 
was  the  conceded  head  of  the  Suflblk  County  Bar.  He  was  very 
potential  both  with  the  Court  and  Juries,  not  so  much  on  account 
of  any  extensive  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  law,  or  readiness 
in  their  application,  as  by  reason  of  his  deservedly  high  general 
character,  and  his  plausible  address. 

"  Mr.  Wood  was  firm  in  his  political  sentiments,  but  by  no  means 
a  warm  partizan.  He  could  discern  the  errors  in  his  own  party  as 
well  as  those  of  his  political  opponents.  His  habit  of  voting  for 
what  he  approved,  without  reference  to  party,  induced  De  Witt 
Clinton  to  compare  him  to  the  pendulum  of  a  clock — first  on  one 
side  and  then  on  the  other." 


XVI 


Tlic  same  gentleman  sends  an  encomiiiin  on  Lis  Giock  spcedi, 
(which  we  have  quoted  in  another  place),  and  apropos  of  this 
speech,  which  was  widely  approved,  tells  the  following  anecdote, 
which  affords  a  hint  to  ladies  who  would  pay  a  literary  compliment : 
"  On  an  occasion  when  Mr.  Wood  was  to  pass  the  night  at  his 
house,  the  ladies  procured  a  copy  of  this  speech,  and  took  care  to 
place  it  so  that  it  would  be  certain  to  salute  his  eye  with  the  look  of 
an  intimate  friend  of  the  liousehold.  If  the  learned  and  agreeable 
guest,  who  li.id  ili^ci})liiicd  hi^  mind  against  most  forms  of  Hattery, 
had  nevertheless  been  susceptible  to  so  delicate  a  compliment,  it 
would  have  lost  something  of  its  flavor  by  his  discovery,  that  the 
leaves  were  uncut." 

Another  intimate  friend,  and  for  some  time  a  cotemporary  at  the 
bar,  gives  the  fullnwinn'  hints  :  — 

" 'riir  litV  "I'  Sil;i~  W'lHxl  was  of  sucli  ail  even  tenor,  while  resid- 
ing in  this  County,  that  1  think  it  will  be  difficult  to  tind  any  very 
prominent  incidents — any  strongly  illustrative  of  character.  Who- 
ever sketches  his  life  will,  I  think,  be  cnntined  to  a  delineation  of 
character.  I  cannot  attempt  this — it  would  be  quite  out  of  my 
vocation. 

"  Any  person,  on  a  slight  aequaintance,  would  have  noticed  his 
naturalness  and  simplicity,  almost  eliildlike  ;  in  this  respect  to  be 
compared,  I  suppose,  with  the  late  Chancellor  Kent. 

"  His  pure  unselfishness,  and  untiring  industry  in  meeting  any 
claim  for  information  or  assistance,  whether  professional  or  other- 
wise, were  remarkable.  His  aim  seemed  to  be  to  oblige,  and  to  do 
good,  with  little  regard  to  personal  sacrifice. 

"  To  collect  facts  with  relation  to  the  early  condition  of  estates — 
the  pedigree  of  families — as  well  as  the  early  history  of  the  coun- 
try, was  with  him  a  passion.  In  search  of  these  he  would  travel 
from  one  end  of  the  county  to  the  other,  in  his  plain  box-wagon, 
and  as  plain  in  his  piTsonal  apjiearance. 

"A  relation  of  hi-,  a  comi-cUor-at-law,  with  his  wife  (a  daughter 
of  old  Gov.  ElUwortli,  of  Connecticut),  wlien  on  the  Island,  called 
upon  him  at  his  residence  in  West  Ilills — a  very  anrlL-nt  -tnieture. 
They  were  surprised  at  the  contrast  between  his  publi''  reputation 
and  his  private  style  of  life. 

"  No  person's  visits  were  more  welcome  than  his  ;  they  w  ere 
always  too  short.    Ilis  memory  was  a  store-house  of  facts,  on  al- 


xvir 


most  every  subject,  and  always  at  his  command  ;  and  there  were 
few  social  treats  so  rich,  as  a  call  even,  from  Silas  Wood. 

"I  do  not  believe  that  he  ever  made  an  effort  to  procure  office  for 
himself.  He  did  not  belong  to  the  dominant  political  party  here  ; 
and  yet,  when  subjection  to  party  dictation  was  regarded  as  of  un- 
questionable obligation,  the  people  sent  him  to  Congress.  It  was 
an  impulsive  recognition  of  his  personal  worth,  which,  for  the  time, 
thrust  aside  all  party  calculations. 

"  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  ho  was  a  lover  of  order  and  method 
in  all  his  business.  A  neighbor  of  his  once  said  to  me,  '  if  Silas  Wood 
should  see  a  spear  of  his  grass  bent  down,  he  would  straighten 
it  up.' 

'•  His  perfect  integrity  was  never  doubted.  lie  was  correct  in 
his  moral  conduct.  He  was  subject  to  fits  of  asthma,  during  which, 
for  nights  in  succession,  he  could  not  lie  down.  In  a  few  instances, 
in  such  cases,  he  became  overcome  with  liquor,  taken  as  a  stimu- 
lant, so  as  to  lose  all  self-control,  and  this  seemed  to  be  the  effect 
oil  him  of  the  first  excitement.  This  spot  on  his  disk  was  transient, 
and  not  to  be  noticed." 

A  biography  would  bo  but  a  eulogy,  if  the  spots  upon  character 
and  the  frailties  of  poor  human  nature  were  not  fairly  exhibited.  I 
have  taken  care,  therefore,  to  put  in  this  sketch  all  that  could  be 
learned  of  the  peculiarities,  weaknesses,  and  inadvertencies  of  one 
f)f  the  purest  of  Long-Island  men. 

Another  learned  and  able  lawyer,  who  has  grown  old  at  the  Suf- 
folk bar,  says  of  him  : 

"  He  was  at  Riverhead  in  1825,  when  I  made  my  debut  at  the  bar. 
We  then  became  acquainted,  and  he  appeared,  afterward,  much  in- 
terested in  me  as  a  young  lawyer  of  the  county.  He  was  a  man  of 
very  general  knowledge,  and  I  always  felt  profited  in  his  company. 
I  am  sure  no  lawyer  was  ever  more  highly  esteemed  by  the  mass  of 
the  people,  for  candor  and  honesty.  His  personal  popularity  in  the 
county  was  very  great." 

One,  his  near  neighbor,  and  who  and  whose  father  now  deceased, 
were  always  intimate  friends,  sends  me  more  valuable  facts  than 
could  have  been  gleaned  from  any  other  source. 

From  this  source,  I  learn  that  he  gave,  by  will,  direction  to  his 
executors,  to  burn  all  his  "  writings,"  which  direction  was  f;iithfally 
executed,  so  f;ir  as  any  of  his  manuscripts  or  papers  were  in  their 
.5 


XV I II 


possession.    A  few  of  tlicse  in  some  way  osr;i])0(l  discovery,  and 
were  discovered  in  the  rosearclies  for  tins  Memoir. 
The  same  friend  writes  : 

"  As  to  his  stature,  ray  recollections  arc,  that  he  was  rather  more 
than  medium  hoiii^ht,say  five  feet  ten,  to  six  feet,  broad  shoulders,  fine 
for.'liead,  and  wli«;n  ill  his  prime  he  must  have  been  a  man  of  fine 
a[H>caraiu'c.  I  iia\  o  not  language  at  command  to  describe  the  ani- 
mated expression  of  his  llaNliin^- 1  yi's  and  beaming  countenance  when 
he  became  intriv-tc.l  cv.  ii  du  ordinary  topics.  I  never  heard  him 
at  the  bar,  nor  in  the  Xatioiial  nor  State  Councils ;  but  it  is  easy  to 
imagine  how  he  must  have  warmed  up  with  any  great  topic  which 
engaged  his  thoughts  and  feelings.  He  s[)olce  rapidly,  and  his  gesti- 
culation was  quick  and  earnrst,  ratlier  than  iin  a^nred  or  dignilied. 
I  know  it  was  my  fatln'r".>  o^tinioii  that  he  stoud  al  the  head  of  the 
bar  of  Sufi"olk." 

Another  anecdote  is  in  several  points  characteristic  : — 
"  From  a  high  point  near  the  residence  of  his  youth,  at  West 
Hills,  he  had  often  looked  upon  the  Sound,  and  the  blue  line  of  the 
main  land  beyond  on  the  one  side,  and  the  broad  Atlantic  on  the 
other.  When  he  came  to  hear  Plempstead  Harbor  Hill,  (whose  re- 
corded elevation  is  319  feet  above  the  le\cl  of  the  Sound)  elaimed 
as  the  hi'j,lie-t  gioand  on  the  Island,  he  iMt  as-ured  that  a  jiolnt  at 
AVest  Hills  was  higher.  This  is  a  spot  dciioiiiiiialed  "Oakley's 
High  Hill  Field,"  which  afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of 
Zebulon  Rogers.  In  October,  1825,  he  called  to  his  aid  an  experi- 
enced and  accurate  surveyor,  Mr.  Abel  Ketcham,  who  took  all  the 
elevations  from  the  water  level  of  the  Sound,  and  determined,  as 
Mr.  Wood  had  foreseen,  that  this  point  was  354^  feet  above  such 
level,  and  therefore  35^  feet  higher  than  the  Harbor  Hill.  This 
position  of  vantage  to  his  native  hills  was  evidently  gratifying  to 
Mr.  Wood.  It  touched  a  feeling  of  pride  and  romance  in  his 
character.  The  town  records  were,  in  1832,  in  the  custody  of  the 
late  Moses  Kolph.  Mr.  Wood  in  that  year,  on  the  I'l'd  S.  pt.  inher, 
took  the  pains  to  have  the  field  notes  of  this  survey,  with  a  certifi- 
cate signed  with  his  name,  entered  on  the  records  of  the  town,  by 
pasting  the  .same  firmly  in  the  book  of  town  minutes. 

"  Mr.  Wood  was  always  deeply  intcroted  in  the  welfare  of  young 
people,  and  constantly  gave  them  valuaMe  advice.  He  A'ould 
adapt  his  inaiiner  and  conversation  to  the  compaiiiuiislii]>  and  en- 


XIX 


tertaininent  of  cliildreii,  and  was  always  a  welcome  guest  at  every 
child's  home. 

"  If  he  had  any  marked  peculiarity,  it  was  his  precision.  He 
was  in  all  things  a  lover  of  order  and  regularity,  observing  punctu- 
ality himself,  and  enforcing  it  in  others. 

"  After  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  join  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
he  was  '  all  Presbyterian.'  Several  anecdotes  could  be  told  to 
show  his  tenacity  and  strictness  in  regard  even  to  the  forms  of 
the  Church,  and.  his  strict  guardianship  against  any  looseness  of 
practice  or  latitudinarianism  of  doctrine.  In  particular,  he  was 
anxious  that  the  councils  of  the  church  should  be  actively  main- 
tained. An  anecdote  to  this  purport  occurs  :  The  Synod  of  New- 
York  was  to  hold  its  annual  meeting  at  Sag  Harbor,  I  think  in  the 
year  1843.  It  was  then  a  long  drive  from  our  part  of  the  Island  ; 
the  cars  did  not  run  through,  as  now,  to  Greenport,  and  the  journey 
was  to  be  performed  with  horses.  For  this  reason,  or  a  better  one, 
the  elder  appointed  by  Session  could  not  go.  Mr.  Wood  ascer- 
tained there  was  likely  to  be  no  lay  representative,  and  though  only 
a  private  member  of  the  church,  the  thought  of  this  possible  neg- 
lect jarred  painfully  upon  his  feelings.  He  instantly  took  counsel  with 
the  members  of  the  Session,  came  into  my  house  and  read  a  severe 
lesson  upon  the  propriety,  nay,  the  necessity,  of  lay  representation, 
and  before  four  o'clock  in  the  aflernooii  one  of  the  elders,  with  carpet- 
bag  packed,  was  on  his  way,  with  the  pastor,  towards  Sag  Harbor." 

In  addition  to  his  Sketch  of  the  Early  Settlements  on  Long 
Island,  Mr.  Wood  prepared  a  valuable  sketch  of  the  town  history 
of  Huntington,  entitled  "  A  Geography  of  the  Town  of  Hunting- 
ton, with  a  brief  history  of  its  first  settlement,  and  political  con- 
dition to  the  end  of  the  Revolution,"  printed  at  Washington,  in 
1824,  by  Davis  &  Force,  which  is  in  30  octavo  pages.  The  edition 
was  doubtless  very  limited,  and  a  part  of  it  was  burned  in  the  house 
of  Moses  Rolph,  his  neighbor. 

The  miniature  from  which  the  engraving  is  made  (with  which  this 
Sketch  is  embellished,)  is  in  the  first  style  of  art,  painted  by  a 
master-hand,  on  ivoiy,  and  was  probably  taken  when  Mr.  Wood 
was  a  member  of  Congress,  and  forty-five  years  old  or  thereabouts. 
There  is  a  so-called  likeness,  in  profile,  among  the  members  of  the 
Legislature  in  1798,  published  in  the  Documentary  History  of  the 
State,  but  his  friends  fail  to  trace  in  it  the  slightest  resemblance. 


XX 


A  nciitlcinaii  of  New  York,  t'oiinerly  from  Iliintiniiton,  says,  tliat 
wlieii  a  young  man  he  knew  Silas  Wood  ;  that  while  employeil  as 
clerk  in  a  store  in  New  York,  Mr.  Wood  called,  in  his  al)scnce,  and 
left  a  book  for  him.  It  was  "  Locke  on  the  Human  Umlerstandiiig," 
and  was  the  first  book  which  set  him  to  thinking. 

It  is  supposed  that  a  great  portion  of  his  later  writings,  which 
were  destroyed  by  his  direction,  were  upon  theological  topics. 

In  the  year  1832,  when  he  was  sixty-three  years  of  age,  lie  made 
a  public  profession  of  religion,  and  connected  himself  with  the 
Presbj'terian  Churcli  in  Ilmitington. 

I  quote  here  from  the  ohitnai  \  iiutic-e,  from  a  friendly  and  com- 
petent hand,  (understood  to  be  that  of  the  Kev.  Mr.  McDongall, 
his  pastor,)  in  the  Long  Islander,  just  after  his  death,  from  which 
I  have  already  largely  drawn  : 

"  He  was  a  warm  advocate  of  early  religious  education,  and 
strongly  attached  to  catechetical  instruction.  He  often  adverted 
with  interest  to  the  former  diys.  when  parents  were  in  the  habit  of 
employing  part  of  every  Sabbath  day  in  training  their  children  to 
this  exercise.  He  was  very  partial  to  standard  tiicological  works. 
So  familiar  was  he  with  the  writings  of  \Vitlior>iiii()n  and  Edwards, 
that  when  unable  to  read  for  himself,  he  could  name  the  page  con- 
taining the  subject  which  he  wished  to  have  read  to  him. 

"  But  if  we  judge  of  his  estimation  of  books  from  liis  familiarity 
with  them,  we  must  conclude  that  the  Bible  exceeded  all  ntln  i-,  fur 
with  no  book  was  he  more  familiar.  The  old  pocket  J>il>le,  which 
h  id  been  his  companion  since  the  days  of  his  boyhood,  bearing  the 
date  of  1783,  exhibits  signs  not  only  of  age,  but  of  faithful  use. 
He  had  the  New  Testament  almost  by  heart,  and  was  able  at  any- 
time to  turn  directly  to  chapter  and  verse.  It  was  not  until  late  in  life 
that  he  made  a  public  profession  of  religi'Hi,  tlem-h  he  had  for  a  long 
time  before  manifested  a  lively  interest  in  ilie  ailairs  of  the  church" 

He  had  been  for  some  time  aware  nf  hi-  apiHoaidiing  end,  and 
made  the  most  minute  preparations  for  the  r  )nitni  t  of  his  wife  after 
his  departure.  As  illustrative  of  this  kind  trait,  as  well  as  cf  his 
habits  of  order,  a  friend  relates  that  he  called  to  him  the  man  accus- 
tomed to  cart  his  wood,  and  directed  him  after  his  decease  to  bring 
in  the  wood  at  a  particular  gate,  to  leave  it  always  iii.^  designated 
place,  to  have  it  cut  of  convenient  size,  and  to  give  Mrs.  Wood  as 
little  trouble  as  possible. 


i 

XXI 


His  niece  says,  "  lie  possessed  liis  faculties  unimpaired  to  the  last, 
except  that  the  night  before  he  died  he  was  a  little  flighty.  Just  hefore 
he  died  he  called  the  family  around  him,  but  did  not  address  them." 

A  friend  says,  "I  was  in  to  see  him  the  morning  before  he  died, 
lie  then  appeared  to  be  calm,  collected  and  resigned." 

His  decease  took  place  March  2d,  1847,  in  the  78th  year  of  his 
age.  For  some  years  previously  he  had  been  dreadfully  troubhvl 
with  the  asthma,  which  often  compelled  him  to  sit  on  his  chair  all 
night,  and  drove  him  to  the  use  of  stimulants  as  an  alleviate.  His 
immediate  death  was  hastened  by  a  severe  fall  which  kept  him  to 
his  bed  for  eight  months.  He  is  buried  in  the  village  of  Hunting- 
ton, in  the  Old  Hill  burial  ground,  which  adjoins  the  Presbyterian 
parsonage.  In  this  ground,  where  rest  the  earliest  of  the  srttlcrsof 
Huntington,  Benjamin  Thompson,  tlie  Tory  General  (afterward  made 
Count  Rumford  by  the  Duke  of  Bavaria),  encamped  his  troops  diir- 
ing  the  Revolution,  and  made  sad  havoc  with  the  grav  e  stoiK's,  many 
of  which  were  converted  into  ovens,  and  subjected  to  l>ase  uses  and 
wanton  destruction. 

His  earlier  ancestors  are  buried  on  a  knoll  a  few  nuls  north  of  the 
old  house  at  West  Hills. 

As  a  statesman  he  was  wise  and  far-sighted,  and  no  man  of  his 
time  was  more  free  from  party  bias  or  prejudice;  as  a  lawyer,  high- 
ly resp<'rtabl(\  tlinii'^'li  liis  ability  in  this  department  wa-;  siilMirdin- 
atcd  \i)  lii>  i-aii;.  1-  a-  a  politician,  and  his  tastes  as  a  s.-liolar  and  his- 
torian. As  a  liistoriaii  he  was  impartial,  patient,  induct lious,  and 
devoted  to  the  truth.  No  man  excelled  him  in  lo\e  for  liis  native 
Island,  and  no  man  could  have  been  more  careful  to  leave  a  reputa- 
tion which  would  honor  it. 


6 


A  SKETCH 


OF  THE 


OF  THE 

SEVERAL  TOWNS  ON  LONG-ISLAND; 

WITH  THEIR 

POLITICAL  CONDITION, 

TO  THE 

EXD  OF  THE  AMERICAN"  EEYOLUTIOK 


BY  SILAS  WOOD. 


A  NEW  EDITION. 


BROOKLYN,  N.  Y., 

PRINTED  BT  ALDES  SPOOXER,  FULTON-STREET. 

1828.  - 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


The  object  of  the  republication  of  tliis  work,  is  to  supply  some 
deficiencies,  particularly  in  relation  to  the  colony  government,  and 
the  sketch  of  General  Woodhull ;  the  materials  for  which  were 
obtained  from  the  Secretary's  office. 

A  brief  statement  of  the  inferior  courts  on  Long-Island  has  been 
added  in  the  Appendix,  to  illustrate  the  changes  of  the  law  relative 
to  them,  with  the  names  of  the  Judges  and  Clerks,  to  which  I  have 
also  added  the  names  of  the  members  of  Assembly  from  the 
various  Counties  on  Long-Island,  from  1691  to  1776. 

I  have  also  given  a  sketch  of  the  biography  of  Colonel  William 
Smitii,  and  William  Nicholls,  Esqrs.,  which  is  identified  with  the 
history  of  that  period. 

I  embrace  this  occasion  to  express  my  acknowledgments  to  the 
Secretary  and  Deputy  Secretary,  the  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court 
at  Xew-York,  to  the  Clerks  of  the  several  counties  and  towns  on 
Long-Island,  for  free  access  to  their  offices,  and  to  all  those  gentle- 
men who  have  aided  me  by  their  researches,  or  have  contributed  to 
the  facts  contained  in  this  work. 


A  SKETCH 


OF  THE 

FIKST  SETTLEMENT  OF  LOXG-ISLAND,  &c. 


The  state  of  tlie  Covntry. 

At  tlie  time  of  the  lirst  f^ettlement  of  Long-Island,  it  ap- 
pears that  the  western  ])art  of  it,  if  not  the  whole,  was  in  a 
great  meusnre  bare  of  timlu-r. 

Tlie  Indians  here,  cverv  where  else  where  thev  were 
settled,  annually  1»urut  over  the  woods,  in  order  to  clear 
the  land,  to  provide  for  the  deer  ami  othei'  game. 

Tliere  are  numerous  ficts  to  prove  that,  at  the  tinie  of 
the  lirst  settlement  of  the  l>land,  the  woo(ls  wei'o  destitute 
of  underbrush,  and  that  the  large  trees  were  so  scarce  that 
it  was  deemed  necessary  to  take  measures  for  their  preser- 
vation. 

The  first  >ettlcrs  in  everv  town  commenciMl  tlieir  im|trove- 
ments  without  any  ]>ri'\  ioii>  clearing.  Tlioy  generally  en- 
closeil  hirge  tract>  of  land  by  a  eomiiiou  feiiee.  fur  plant- 
ing, and  al>o  fir  jia-turiiig  surh  ]iart  of  their  tlock  as  they 
did  not  wi>h  to  run  at  large.  In  lt')4C,  the  ]>eople  of  the 
town  of  Gravesend,  by  a  vote  of  the  tir>t  town  meeting, 
held  in  the  town,  ordereil  every  iidiabitant  to  make  twenty 
])oles  of  fence,  to  eiu-htse  a  connnon  field  of  corn  ;  and  in 
Voted  in  like  manner  to  make  a  common  pasture  for 
their  calves. 

Similar  regulations  were  made  in  Xewtown.  in  Hemp- 
stead, in  lluntingti)!!,  and  ])robably  in  nio-t.  if  not  all  the 
towns  on  the  Island.  In  1<>.'»4.  the  town  of  Southold  passed 
a  roolntion,  that  no  ]>ei-son  should  cut  trees  or  sell  wood 
fi'om  their  common  lands,  fir  ]npe  >tave>.  or  heading,  or 
other  purpo>es.  to  anv  person  not  being  a  town>nian.  with- 
out thetown">  liberty."  In  lti:>;t.  the  town  of  Huntington, 
by  a  vote  of  town  meeting.  i-e>olved  that  no  tindier  >liould 
be  cut  fir  sale  witliiu  three  niile>  of  the  >ettlement.  under 
the  penalty  of  fi\-e  shilling-  fir  every  ti'ee.  In  llWid  they 
made  an  exception  of  oak  timber  for  }iipe  staves  ;  but  in 


4 


ir)68tlic  mau-istrates,  after  statiin:-  tlioir  ap]>reheiifiioiis  that 
the  town  avus  iu  danger  of  Ihmh;!'  niinfil  l.y  the  destruction 
of  its  timlxM'.  ordered  that  no  tiniliei'  >hould  In'  ent,  fir  trans- 
]i'>rtatiun,  within  three  miles  of  the  setth'nieiit,  nnder  tlie 
jienalty  of  live  shillinp;s  for  every  tree  ;  and  fm-lud  sti'anu;(.'rs 
cutting!:  any  timber,  within  the  limits  of  the  tuwu.  under 
the  like  penalty. 

In  Idiio,  the  town  of  Oysterbay  passed  a  sinnlar  resolu- 
tion. 

In  ItWU,  the  town  of  Southam])ton  voted  that  no  timber 
should  be  made  into  pipe  >ta\i>.  tu  be  carriecl  out  of  the 
town,  under  the  pcnah\        twenty  a  tree. 

In  KUJS,  the  town  of  Newtown  \  oted  that  no  one  should 
carry  any  timber  to  the  water  side  for  tran.-portatiou,  un- 
der the  penalty  of  twenty  shillini:-  a  load. 

The  trees  in  tlie  wood^  wvvr  -><  thin  and  spaise,  that 
they  aboiuideil  witli  I'cimK  and  tlic  >t'ttler>  depended  uu  them 
fir  ]ia>tnre  Ibr  siu-h  cattle  as  were  not  needed  fir  domestic 
l)urposes. 

In  1658  the  town  of  Hempstead  employed  a  herdsman 
to  attend  their  cattle.  There  are  various  resolution-  of  this 
town  for  a  series  of  years,  to  the  sanu-  effect.  Tliey  drove 
their  cattle  as  far  as  Cow-Xeck  to  pa>tiire.  and  it  is  sup- 
posed to  have  taken  its  naine  from  tliat  circiiin-taiice.^'' 

In  I6G0,  the  towai  of  1 1  iintin--toii.  by  a  \  ote  of  town  meet- 
ing, ordered  that  all  the  yoiiiiu'  ami  dry  catth-  belonging 
to'the  town,  should  be  di'iveii  to  Horx'-Xeck.  to  ]ia>t)u-e, 
after  tlie  second  dav  lA'  .Inin'  cii-iiini;'. 

In  liii'ii;  tow'n  of  (ir,i\ c-ond  cmiiloyed  a  ]iei'(l>uian 
to  attend  their  cattle  that  lain  at  large,  during  the  >ummer 
season. 

By  neglecting  the  Indian  practice  of  annual  burnings, 
in  a  few  years  young  timber  and  underlirush  increased 
s(_i  as  to  injure  the  feed  in  the  woods. 

In  lii<'i^.  the  town  of  Huntington,  at  a  town  meeting, 
voted  that  every  male  over  sixteen,  should  a--eiiib]e  when 
warned  by  the  men  who  were  appointed  fir  that  purjiose,  to 
cut  dow  n  liru>h  or  underwo<id,  when  it  >hould  be  thought 
a  ht  time  to  de>ti-oy  it.  Tinder  the  penalty  of  five  shillings 
a  day  fir  neglect. 

*  The  openness  of  the  country  was  very  favorable  to  the  increase  of  stock,  and  the  great 
plain  around  the  town  of  Hempstead  is  peculiarly  so,  and  their  cattle  became  quite  numerous 
within  a  few  years  after  the  settlement  of  the  town. 

In  165*,  the  people  of  Hempstead  had  S4  ciws,  which  brought  them  S2  calves  that  year. 

In  1059,  tlie  town  consisted  of  62  families,  and  it  appears  from  the  accounts  of  their  herds- 
men for  that  year,  that  they  had  629  head  of  cattle  of  all  sorts. 


o 

7th  October,  1672.  The  Governor  and  conrt  of  assize, 
h\  an  orck^r,  after  stating  that  the  feed  for  horses  and  cattle 
in  the  woods  on  Long-Ishand  had  decayed  by  the  increase 
of  brush  and  underwood,  directed  the  inhabitants  from  six- 
teen to  sixty,  to  turn  out  four  days  in  every  year,  under  tlie 
direction  of  the  town  olficers,  to  cut  out  the  brush  and  un- 
derwood, under  the  penalty  of  five  shillings  for  every  day's 
neglect. 

In  1674r,  the  town  of  Jamaica,  by  a  vote  of  ti^vn  mcoting, 
resolved  that  every  male  upwards  of  sixteen,  >lii)ulil  out 
two  days  in  the  year,  at  the  time  appointed  fur  that  pur- 
pose, to  cut  down  brush  about  the  town,  under  tlie  penalty 
of  five  shillings  for  every  day's  neglect. 

By  similar  evidence,  it  appears,  that  the  pine  plains  were 
also  at  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of  the  Island,  in  a 
great  measure  unincumbered  with  underbrush. 

This  >tiUe  of  the  country  was  of  iunnense  advantage  to 
the  fir>t  settlers.  Had  they  been  obliged  to  encounter 
thick  forests  of  large  timber,  and  to  wait  tlie  tardy  returns 
of  heavy  clearings,  the  first  emigrants  would  probably  have 
perislied  by  famine.  The  openness  of  the  country — the 
<|uantity  of  land  left  imoccupied  by  the  sparseness  of  tlie 
Indian  population,  and  tlie  rapid  growtli  and  nutritive  (jual- 
ity  of  the  corn  found  among  tlie  Iii(b'iUi>,  eoutrilmted  essen- 
tially to  the  preservation,  growth,  and  }>ro>perity  of  tlie  first 
settlers  on  Long  Island. 

Of  the  interferuKj  clahii-H  of  the  English  arid  Dutch  to 
LdiKj-Island. 

The  English  and  the  Dutch  both  claimed  Long-Island,  on 
the  ground  of  prior  discovery. 

On  the  dis(>overy  of  America,  it  seems  to  have  been 
adopted  l>v  the  maritime  nations  of  Euro]ie,  as  a  part  of  the 
conventional  law  of  nations,  thtit  new  discoveries  should 
entire  to  the  nation  under  who.-e  authority  they  were  made.* 

Xorth  America  from  38  to  5S  degrees  uf  north  latitude, 

*  The  Pope  gare  Spain  and  Portugal  all  the  countiirs  iiil<,il-itr(i  hy  infidels  wliich  they 
should  discover.  The  other  nations  of  Europe  claimed  the  ti'joyiuint  of  the  same  privilege, 
and  for  a  long  tmie  the  naked  discovery  of  a  country,  without  occupation  or  settlemeut,  fur- 
nished the  ground  ol  nri  i  x,  In-ive  claim  to  an  indetinite  portion  of  the  discovered  country. 
The  inconvenience  md  iii|n-h.  t-  nf  this  doctrine  by  degrees  lessened  its  force,  till  it  has,  by 
common  consent,  tall' n  intn  niihvKui.  In  1790,  when  the  Spaniards,  in  pursuance  of  the  old 
doc  rine,  had  seized  i!m  -lii|.-  ei  i . reat  Britain  at  Nootka  Sound,  the  ministry  proposed  an  im- 
mediate resort  !(■  I  '  I  I  1  Mr.  Fox  in  support  of  the  proposed  measure,  observed, 
"  That  in  the  pre-  I  age,  the  absolute  claims  of  territory  by  a  grant  from  the 
Pope,  is  done  a\v:e,  -  i  ^  nt  of  territory  by  discovery  without  absolute  settlement.  The 
taking  possession  li\  h  mul-  a  eross,  or  any  such  mark  of  ceremony,  is  by  the  good  sense  of 
the  iiresent  tone  not  admitted,  ami  that  the  only  ground  of  light  is  absolute  occupancy." 

It  this  doctrine  had  prevailed  in  1004,  it  might  have  altered  the  destiny  of  the  Dutch  pro- 
vince of  New-Netherland. 


6 


was  (li>co\c'i'C'(l  in  l-l-llT.  by  Sobastiuii  Cahot,  in  the  service 
of  tlie  Kiiji-lisli,  and  various  Vdvaiivs  were  made  to  ditterent 
parts  of  the  coast  Ity  Knirllsh  na\  iii-ators  previous  to  tlie 
yeai-  ItinO. 

In  IdnC.  Kino'  .lanu's,  l.y  letters  patent,  izraiited  all  that 
])art  of  the  continent  which  lay  lictwceii  ami  4.^  (le<:;rees 
of  north  latitude,  to  Sir  'riioina<  ( ;ate>  and  othci->.  with  i)er- 
nns.-,ion  to  divide  thcniscKi-?  into  two  conipanio,  the  fir>t 
to  he  called  the  J.oudon  company,  and  the  >econd  the 
IMyniouth  coui]>any. 

In  l<'>n7,  tlie  J.oiidon  company  conimeuced  a  settlement 
in  ^'iri:•il^a. 

In  l(>ii;i.  tlu'  Kini:-  ui'anteil  a  se]tarate  patent  to  tlie  first 
company,  cxtciidiiiu.-  tVom  Point  ( 'omfort  two  hundred  miles 
each  way.  and  in  Icii^i'th  from  >ca  to  >ca. 

In  lG2n.  the  >amc  Kin--  granted  a  ^epal•ate  patent  to  the 
second  company,  hy  the  name  of  "  the  council  c>tal»li~lied 
at  Plymouth  in  the  c.iuiity  of  I  )L'von  for  the  plant iiii:',  niliiiir. 
and  goveriiinL^-  of  New  I-hi^'hind  in  America."  fir  all  that 
part  of  the  continent  lyin^  hetweeii  4n  and  4'^  dcLi'rees  of 
north  latitude,  and  extcndini:'  from  si>a  to  >ea.  In  vii'tueof 
this  charter,  which  is  u>ually  calle(l  the  New  I'jii;laiid  pa- 
tent, the  council  of  JMymoiith  i>sued  all  the  >uhoi-dinate 
patents  of  the  several  col<mie>  which  were  i:rantc(l  l.i4ore 
it  was  surrendered  to  the  crown,  to  wit.  the  Plymouth 
patent  in  1623,  that  of  Massachusetts  in  U!2S,  and  that  of 
Connecticut,  1631."^ 

The  same  coni])any.  by  order  of  Charles  tlie  First,  on  the 
±2d  of  April,  in  tin-'  11th  year  of  his  reiii'n.  i>~iied  letter> 
l>atent  to  William.  Earl  of  Stirlinii'.  Secretary  of  the  J\ iiiir- 
dom  of  Scotland."  for  the  whole  of  Lonii--l>la'iid. 

April  L'M.  in  the  linh  year  of  Charlo'l..  the  Karl  of  Stir- 
ling:- e\cciirei|  a  ]iower  of  attoi-iiey  to  .lame-  Karret.  to  >ell 
and  di-|iMM'  m|  land-  on  the  Uland.  and  the  eai'lie-t  pin'chases 
made  liy  the  Kiii;li>h  on  the  I>land.  were  made  or  confirmed 
by  authority  derived  from  lum.f    A  certiiied  copy  of  this 

*  In  .Tun.-,  the  Plvninutti  Coiniianv  surrendered  their  ili.iiter  to  ili.'  Crcuvn,  and 

l-i-  iihiu'  ii.l.-.l  llMttli,.  ,v  nl  iihti-.x  rn.ln-arcd  hy  il  slioilUIlK-  .lhi.l.,1  inlM-i  iiiinlir,-  „f  ,,ro- 
(.-:  ■  .  ,  '  pUi'i  'u'a-  I'hil  ^Hl-i-!.  i  )  the 
.ii-       .       I  II,.    K,.,_    ,i|.i..,,iil..i|  111..    \rL.lilii~h.i].  ..r   (  .,1,  ■              .....i  -.line 

culnnk.^  :  it  does  not  ii|j|)ear  that  the  Hoar. I  .'vci-  |.  r. . I.-.  I  t .  i  .■  \ .  .  ii' .■  II  i.  ii  liujt.and  tile 

different  parts  of  the  country  that  had  not  l.c-en  i.  ii..  I  l.>  il..   l'l>in  iiiih  Company,  were 

after  that  period  granted  by  letters  patent  of  tlif  Khi- oi  hi- , , . m. n s 

t  William  Alexander  was  born  in  Scotland  in  irjs  i,  was  l<ni(;lited  b.v  .lames  VI  of  Scotland, 
and  James  1  of  England,  1614;  obtained  letters  patent  for  Nova  Scotia  in  Itiil,  was  made 
Secretary  of  the  Kint'dom  of  Scotland  in  16J0,  Peer  of  Scotland  in  IftJl),  and  was  created  Earl 


7 


powev  (if  attorne^y,  taken  from  the  record  of  Massaeliusetts, 
is  anions;'  tlie  papers  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  town 
of  Southampton. 

In  1609,  Henry  Hudson,  an  Enghshman  in  the  service 
of  the  Dutch,  visited  and  exph;)red  the  harbor  of  New- York, 
and  the  river  which  has  since  been  called  by  his  name.* 

In  1611,  the  merchants  of  Amsterdam  sent  out  some  ships 
with  goods,  and  opened  a  trade  witli  the  natives. 

In  1613,  the  Dutch  were  visited  by  the  English  from 
Virginia,  and  submitted  to  pay  an  acknowledgment  to  the 
crown  of  England. 

In  1611,  tliey  received  a  reinforcement  from  Europe, 
erected  a  fort,  and  refused  to  submit  to  the  English.  The 
Eiiglisli  in  America  did  not  think  proper,  or  were  not  in 
a  cDiidition  to  renew  their  efforts  to  reduce  or  restrain  the 
Dutch. 

In  1615,  they  sailed  up  the  North  River  and  erected  a 
fort  on  a  small  island,  a  short  distance  below  Albany,  and  in 
a  short  time  afterwards  erected  Fort  Orange,  at  Albany,  on 
the  spot,  as  is  supposed,  where  the  mansion  house  of  Simeon 
De  Witt,  the  Surveyor  General  of  the  State  of  New- York 
now  stands. 

In  1621,  the  States  General  granted  the  Dutch  West 
India  Company  an  exclusive  right  to  trade  to  America  fur 
twenty-four  years,  with  various  other  privileges. 

The  Dutch  seem  at  their  first  arrival,  and  for  many  years 
afterwards,  to  have  had  no  other  views  in  visiting  the  coun- 
try than  to  engross  the  trade  with  the  natives.  It  does  not 
appear  that  they  had  then  adopted  any  plan  for  the  settle- 
ment and  improvement  of  the  country.  No  serious  attempt 
at  colonization  appears  to  have  been  made  till  the  latter 
part  of  Van  Twiller's  administration,  who  arrived  in  162y, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Kieft  in  1638. 

The  first  purchase  of  the  Indians  on  Long-Island  that 
has  been  discovered,  was  in  1635,  and  the  earliest  deed  for 

of  Stirling  in  1633.  He  obtained  a  grant  for  Long-Island  in  1635,  and  died  in  1640.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  grandson,  who  died  a  few  months  after  him,  wlio  was  succeeded  by  his  uncle 
Henry,  who  relinquished  the  grant  of  Long-Island  to  tlie  Crown,  or  to  the  Duke  of  York,  he- 
fore  the  patent  to  him  in  106i,  in  which  it  was  inserted.  The  grant  of  Long-Island,  to  Lord 
Stirling,  and  the  relinquishment  of  it  to  the  Crown  or  to  the  Duke  of  York  by  his  heirs,  is  re- 
cognized in  the  patent  of  Governor  NicoU  to  Constant  Sylvester  and  Nathaniel  Sylvester  for 
Shelter  Island,  3lst  May,  1666. 

*  According  to  De  Laet,  Adrian  Block,  in  1614,  sailed  from  New-Amsterdam,  (now  New- 
Yorkj  through  the  Sound  to  Cape  Cod,  and  visited  the  intermediate  coast  and  Islands.  If  so, 
he  was  the  first  who  ascertained  that  Long-Island  was  separated  from  the  main.  In  l(jl'.', 
Thoma<  Dermer,  in  sailing  from  New-England  to  Virginia,  passed  through  the  Sound  and  con- 
firmed the  discovery  of  Adrian  Block.  In  his  journal  he  states,  "we  found  a  most  dangerous 
cataract  among  small  rockey  Islands,  occasioned  by  two  unequal  tides,  the  one  ebbing  and 
flowing  two  hours  before  the  others." 

8 


8 


liuid  to  individuals,  a  ])at(_'Jit  from  Governor  Tan  Twiller 
to  Aiidrics  Iledden  and  AVolplicrt  (lai-ritscn,  for  a  tract  of 
land  in  Anicrsfort,  or  Flatlands,  liearing  date  of  (Itli  June, 

1 6;5(;. 

Jn  1043,  Governor  Kieft  states  that  tlie  Duteli  settlements 
at  tliat  time,  only  extended  In  miles  east  and  wt-st.  and 
seven  miles  north  and  south. 

The  first  mention  made  of  cattle,  is  a  distrihution  made 
l)y  Van  Twiller  in  KVdS.f  Jtctnie  this  pei-iod,  the  Dutch 
estahlishments  seem  to  have  heeii  ininciiially,  if  not  purely 
cdinmci-cial,  and  were  )>i-(ihaiily  under  the  superintendence 
t>Y  a  t'acfdr  or  (•oninifrrial  au'cnt. 

It  seems  tiiat  the  chums  of  the  Dutch  were  not  limited 
to  any  detiiute  portion  of  the  country,  and  that  they  ex- 
tended their  claim  M-ith  their  purchases  and  setth^ments. 

In  (iovei-nor  Stuyvesant  complains  to  the  directors 

of  the  AVe>t  India  ( 'onijiaiiy.  that  they  wci-c  without  a  patent 
to  support  their  claim.  The  J)utch,  in  order  to  extend 
their  claims  to  as  much  of  the  country  as  possible,  at  an 
early  period  made  a  purchase  on  the  Delaware,  and  in 
1C33  on  Connecticut  river,  and  claimed  the  whole  country 
between  those  two  rivers. 

The  English  a  few  months  afterwards,  also  nnide  a  ])ur- 
chase  on  Connecticut  river,  and  erected  a  hou>c  a  fcM-  miles 
above  Fort  Hope,  which  had  shortly  before  been  erected 
by  the  Dutch.  The  Knudish  commenced  a  scTtlcincnt  at 
S'aybrook  in  1635,  at  Ilartfoi'd  in  K;:".!'..  and  at  .\c\\-ila\en 
in  1038,  and  continued  to  extend  their  settlement>  we>tward 
until  they  met  the  Dutch  in  Stamford,  in  104U. 

Of  the  Sriflem.  nt  of  thr  hhtn<l. 

IJoth  powers  endeavoiire(|  to  >ti-cni:thcn  their  resjjective 
claims  to  the  Island  by  extending  their  >ettlements  there. 

The  two  extremities  of  the  i>land  were  first  settled;  the 
west  end  under  tlie  Dutch,  and  the  east  end  under  the  Eng- 
lish. 

The  several  settlements  under  the  two  ])owers  M  ere  neaidy 
cotemporary,  and  were  all  commencei.l  within  the  com])ass 
of  tbi-ty  years. 

Jioth  the  Dutch  and  English  territories  on  Long-Island, 
Avei-e  settled  by  villages  or  towns,  nor  was  there  any  combi- 

t  .lune  4th,  1B38,  Governor  Van  Twiller  let  George  Uapalje  have  two  cows  for  four  years 
then  to  be  returned  with  half  their  increase,  with  the  exception  of  a  heifer,  w  hich  he  cim- 
sented  should  he  retained  as  a  present  to  one  of  the  daughters  of  Rapalje.  This  seeius  to 
bave  been  a  coiinuon  mode  of  furnisliing  the  settlers  with  stocl<. 


9 


nation  of  tlie^e  into  counties  Lefore  the  conquest  of  tlie 
English  in  166-1. 

I'lie  extent  of  the  towns  in  the  English  territorv,  and  of 
the  English  towns  in  the  Dutch  territory,  was  regulated  Itv 
the  extent  of  their  Indian  purchases.  The  extent  of  the 
Dutch  Towns  was  ])rohal)ly  regulated  by  the  extent  of  their 
grants  from  the  (iovernoi-. 

In  the  Dutch  towns  it  seems  that  the  lands  were  gene- 
rally purchased  hy  the  (loveriior,  and  were  hy  him  gi-aiitcd 
to  individuals.  In  the  English  towns  in  the  Dntcli  tci'ri- 
tory,  the  lands  were  generally  ])urchased  of  tlic  iialivo  bv 
the  settlers,  with  tlic  consnit  of  tlie  Dutch  (iovfiMior ;  and 
in  the  towns  undei-  the  Englisli,  the  lands  were  pui-chased 
of  the  natives  hy  the  settlers,  (U-iginally  witli  tlie  consent 
of  the  agent  of  the  Earl  of  Stirling;  and  after  his  death, 
the  ]»ur(']iases  of  the  Indians  were  made  by  the  }>eople  of 
the  >c\eral  towns  for  theii'  comnnm  benefit. 

In  cases  of  grants  to  companies  by  the  Dutch  (lovernor. 
the  lands  wei'e  diviiled  by  lot  ;  and  in  all  cases  of  pur- 
chase, the  rights  of  individuals  were  deemed  to  ])e  in  pro- 
jiortion  to  their  coiitrilnition  to  the  purchase,  or  to  the  patent 
by  M  hicli  it  was  confirmed. 

A  single  family  of  Erench  protestants  seems  to  have  set- 
tled on  the  Island  in  the  vicinity  of  Xew-York,  as  early  as 

*  The  first  purchase  of  Southold  was  made  under  the  authority  of  New-Haven,  and  the 
purchase  of  Kasthampton  was  made  by  the  Governor  of  New-Haven  and  Hartford,  and  the 
laii(l>  were  afterwards  conveyed  to  the  respective  settlers  of  the  two  towns. 

Lynn  (lanliuer  was  the  sole  proprietor  of  Gardiner's  Island.  Shelter  Island  was  purchased 
hy  .lames  Karrett,  and  after  some  intermediate  conveyances  in  Ifi 56,  became  vested  in  Na- 
thaniel Sylvester,  Con.stan'  Sylvester,  and  Thomas  Middleton.  Constant  Sylvester  resided  in 
Barbadoes,  and  Thomas  Mitldleton  in  En^'land.  During  the  period  of  the  Dutch  power,  on 
the  reconi|uest  of  the  colony,  the  Dutch  Governor,  on  the  2Sth  April,  11)74,  by  a  formal  act 
confiscated  tlie  rights  of  those  two  gentlemen,  as  public  enemies,  and  on  the  '-'sth  of  August, 
soM  ihe  saiiir  to  Nathaniel  Sylvester  for  £500,  for  which  he  gave  his  bond.  When  it  was  ascer- 
tained lliat  llie  Dutch  must  shortly  leave  the  country,  it  appears,  from  a  recital  in  the  will  of 
?;ailiaiiicl  Sylvester,  dated  in  1071*,  reciting  the  confiscation  and  bill  of  sale,  that  the  Go-Jernor 
sent  a  >hip  u  itli  fifty  soldiers  to  Shelter  Island,  to  collect  the  money  due  on  the  said  bond. 
They  lande.l  ■m  the  Is'.and,  surrounded  the  house  of  Nathaniel  Sylvester,  and  compelled  him 
tn  pay  them  the  amount  of  the  bond.  Sinithtown  was  given  to  Lyon  Gardiner  by  Wyandance, 
in  1  li.V.i  by  whom  it  was  sold  to  Richard  Smith,  in  16(53,  and  was  confirmed  by  the  Nissa<iuague 

William  Nicolls  was  the  original  purchaser  and  sole  jiroprietor  of  tlie  greater  part  of  Islip. 
Eaton's  Neck  was  given  to  Governor  Katon  by  the  Intlians,  and  Winthrop's  patent  in  like 
manner  to  Governor  Winthrop.  Exclusive  of  Judge  Smith's  jiurchases,  and  a  few  others,  the 
other  lands  in  the  several  towns  in  Sufi  ilk  County  were  iiurchased  by  the  first  settlers  in 
common. 

The  lands  in  the  occupancy  of  the  Indians  in  the  town  of  Southampton  and  Easthampton. 
belong  to  those  towns  respectively.    The  Indians  have  only  a  usufi  uctuary  property  in  them. 

The  peninsula  of  Montauk  contains  about  OOOO  acres,  1500  of  which  are  timber,  and  lOiio 
water.  It  is  divide!  into  three  fields;  the  first,  or  common  lot,  contains  <iC  10  acres,  the  other 
two  12fl0  each.  The  Indians  occupy  one  or  other  of  the  smaller  fields  as  they  choose,  from 
the  time  of  planting  to  the  time  of  gathering  corn,  and  have  a  right  to  keep  fifty-two  head  of 
cattle  or  horses.  The  whole  is  divided  into  Ihirly-eiglit  shares  ;  each  share  entitles  the  pro- 
prietor to  put  fifty  si-v  head  of  cattle  into  tlie  coinnion  field,  the  first  week  in  April,  and  on  the 
first  of  .lune  to  put  twelve  of  the  fifty-six  into  the  fatting  field.  The  fat  cattle  are  taken  away 
the  first  of  November,  and  others  the  first  of  December.  One  horse  is  deemed  eiiuivalent  to 
two  cattle,  or  four  calves,  or  seven  sheep. 


10 


1(>2.').  Tn  a  family  rccoi-d  in  tlii^  liand^;  of  (reii.  .lolinson  of 
P>iM(>I<lyii.  it  is  stiiti'd  tliMt  the  tir>r  child  of  (Te(>r«j;c'  .lanseii 
Dc  Ka'paljc.  was  l)oni  at  the  \Vanal)ojiht  tliat  year;  and 
it  i>  a  ti'adiliiiii  anitniii-  the;  Dutfli  tliat  this  was  the  first 
w  hite  ehihl  that  was  \tnv\i  un  the  IshuuL 

Tiiis  family,  and  iH'i'ha|i-  a  tew  other-,  may  have  thus 
early  located  themselves  on  the  >hoi'c>  of  the  Island  oi)j)o- 
site  New- York,  hut  it  is  suiniosed  that  very  few  emigrants 
had  yet  arrived  in  the  Dutcli  territ(jries,  whose  object  was 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil.  The  earliest  deed  for  land  in  the 
town  of  P)rook!vn.  is  a  ^-rant  to  Aliraliam  R\-eken  in  1<">-")S  ; 
and  the  earlie-t' d.'cd  on  record,  i.  a  -rant  to  Thonia>  I'.es- 
k(.'i\  in  the  \cai'  H>o'.t.  and  the  eai'liot  ^rant  for  lands  in 
Ivin---  county  that  has  lieen  (li>co\-ei'e(  1.  \\a>  in  li;;'.t;. 

Thi-  nin-t  lie  coii>ideri'd  a>  the  connnencemeiit  of  the 
Dutch  settlement-  on  Long-island.  There  is  no  evidence 
that  any  dii'ect  and  systematic  efforts  were  made  for  this 
})urpose,  till  this  period. 

In  1641,  tlie  Dutch  Governor  and  Council,  in  order  to 
strenfrthen  their  claim  to  the  Island,  consented  that  the 
Knglish  should  settle  there  tinder  their  jurisdiction,  on  tak- 
iiiu'  the  oath  of  allei:-iance  to  the  States  General,  and  the 
Dntch  West  India  Com]>any. 

The  town  of  Gravesend,  in  Kings  county,  and  the  several 
towns  of  Hempstead,  Fln>hing.  Jamaica,  and  Xewtown 
in  Queens  County,  wei-e  originally  settled  hy  Englishmen 
on  these  condition>  :  The  other  towns  in  King>  ( 'onnty 
were  settled  by  the  Dutch,  and  all  the  other  towns  on  the 
Island  were  settled  nndei'  the  Kiigli>h. 

The  first  settlement  under  the  English  was  made  l)y 
Lyon  Gardiner,  on  Gardiner's  Island,  in  1039,  under  a  pur- 
chase made  by  hiui  of  the  natives,  which  was  confirmed  by 
James  Farret,  agent  of  the  Earl  of  Stirling,  in  ir.lO. 

In  October,  1640,  the  people  of  Southold  conimencecl  a 
settlement  on  a  tract  of  land  wdiicli  had  been  pnrcliased  of 
the  native>  by  the  goxcrnment  of  New-llaven. 

In  May.  lt;4i).  the  EnghVh  attempted  to  make  a  settle- 
ment on  a  ti'art  ,,t'  land  on  the  ea>t  side  of  Great  jSTeck.  or 
on  the  we>t  -idr  ,,]'(  \,w  Nrck.  in  the  town  of  North  Ileni])- 
stead,  on  the  north  -ide  ot'the  Island,  which  had  been  pur- 
chased of  the  nati\c>  by  Daniel  llow,  nndei' an  agreement 
with  the  agiMit  of  the  Earl  of  Stirling;  but  were  prevented 
l)y  Ivieft,  the  ])utch  (iovernor,  ami  the  settlers  removed  to 
Southampton,  purchased  a  tract  of  land  of  the  natives,  and 


11 


commenced  a  settleiiiciit  tlierc  in  December,  1G40,  which 
was  the  foundatiiH]  uf  tli.it  town." 

In  lOli^  tlie  Eni;-iisli  aiiceil  a?;  far  as  Oysterhay,  within 
tlie  tract  pnrchased  by  Captain  How,  and  were  broken  np 
by  tlie  Dntch  Governor.  8o]ne  of  tlie  En^b'sli  ]ilanters 
were  >eiz('(l  and  imprisoned,  and  others  driven  from  their 

Tlic  line  of  division  between  the  respective  territories  of 
tlie  two  p.  iwers  was  a  constant  sonrce  of  contention  between 
them,  and  the  })nbhc  harmony  was  interrupted  by  mntnal 
complaints  ef  encroachments  on  Long-Island,  as  well  as  ou 
the  main. 

It  was  at  length  attempted  to  put  an  end  to  these  com- 
plaints, and  to  secure  peace  and  quiet  on  the  borders,  by 
detinitix  ely  settling  the  boundaries  between  their  respective 
territories. 

May  19, 16i3,  the  four  New-England  colonies,  Plymouth, 
]\Iassachu^(■tts,  IFai-ttord,  and  Xc'w-IIaven,  formed  a  union 
fir  their  niutual  M'curity.  and  the  protection  of  the  settle- 
ments that  were  ceiineeted  w  ith  them. 

Public  affairs  were  transacted  by  two  commissioners  from 
each  colony.  All  controversies  between  the  English  and 
th(^  Dutch-' were  from  that  period,  on  the  part  of  the  Eng- 
li-^li.  ni:iii:ii;-ed  hv  the  commissu>ners  ot  the  muted  colonies. 

-  Wv  M,  ;,  1.  I  P  111  i..  aiing  date  ITtti  April.  1W'1.  .Tames  Farret,  agent  of  the  Earl  of  Stir- 
in,     III 'i.iii  .  i  I'm  I  I  I  [iiw.  Job  Payne,  and  orlin^  m  n-  a-*ociates,  to  purchase  lands  and 

I   '  I  iiiL'-IsIand.  "with  as  i-ii   r  .         niierty  botli  in  church  order  and 

n    I  11     -  I  I    j.lantations  in  Massarl-i  :  I 

i.i  .;i,,i   .iji  •'.•luent.  Daniel  How  >li.iii\    i     .  kmiIl- a  purchase  of  the  natives  on 

tin  •■wiiicii  rvtiMided  from  the  eastfiii  |i.irt  ..i  (i, -terliav.  to  the  western  part  of  a 

bav  called  alter  him.  How's  bay.  to  the  middle  of  the  plains,  being  half  the  breadth  of  the 
Lslanil."  and  immediately  commenced  a  settlement  m  the  western  part  of  said  purchase.  May 
l:^  IHto  Governor  Kiett  sent  Cornelius  \  an  Tienhoven.  the  Secretary,  the  under  sheriff,  a 
sergeant  and  tufaitv  live  soMiers.  to  Scout's  bay.  to  break  up  the  said  settlement.  The  party 
set  out  tin-  I  Ith  :ni  i  I  n  1 1 1 1 1 1  ■  ■  I  1 1 1  e  1 .5t.h.    'I'liev  found  the  company,  consisting  of  eight  men 

and  a  "  in  «■  .    ,     :  III  :    ,iiii  had  ei'ected  one  house,  ana  were  engaged  in  erecting 

another    'III,.  I  HI    )M  n  .  1,1  the  men  with  them  to  the  Governor,  to  wit,  Job  Sayre, 

(.;enrf.'H  W.ll-  .Inlni  t.n  iiiLinn,  I'Inlip  Cartland.  Nathaniel  Cartland.  and  AVilliara  Harcher, 
whoni  lie  coiilined.  and  e-\.imiiied  on  oath.  Ou  e.\amination.  it  appeared  that  they  came  from 
Lynn  near  Boston,  and  were  brought  to  the  Island  bv  .Tames  Farret.  in  a  vessel  commanded 
bv  Daniel  How.  both  of  whom  had  returned  to  New-Haven.  On  the  tilth  these  men,  on  sign- 
ing an  agreement  to  leave  the  place,  were  dismissed. 

How's  bav  was  the  same  as  Scout's  bay.  and  is  the  bay  between  Cow  Neck  and  Great  Neck, 
and  so  called  in  the  ancient  deeds  for  land  adjoining  it.  Martin  Garretson  s  bay  is  the  bay 
between  Gi-eat  Neck  and  Little  Neck,  and  is  the  boundary  between  Flushing  and  North 
Hempstead.  ,  . 

The  settlement,  tlierefore,  must  have  been  on  the  east  side  of  Great  Neck,  or  the  west  side 
of  Cow  Neck,  and  probably  at  the  latter  place.  After  their  settlement  at  How's  bay  was 
broken  up,  Daniel  How  and  his  associates  went  to  Southampton,  contracte  t  with  the  natives 
for  the  purchase  of  a  tract  of  land  there,  and  advanced  them  some  part  of  the  consideration 
to  secui'e  the  bargain. 

December  13,  lti4i),  they  settled  the  paynn  at  nf  Ihr  1 1  maining  part  of  the  considei-ation, 
obtained  a  deeil  for  the  land,  and  comineiicil  Hu  h  settleineiit.  They  held  their  first  town 
meeting  the  tilli  of  Api-il,  164),  and  their  town  iiieetiiins  are  regularly  recorded  fi'om  that 
period. 

The  acknowledgn>ent  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling,  or  his  heiis,  was  fixed  by  Governor  ■V\'inthrop, 
of  Boston,  in  1041,  according  to  an  agreement  with  James  Farret,  at  four  bushels  of  Indian 
corn,  payable  the  last  day  of  September,  annually,  at  Southampton. 

9 


12 


A  troiit  v  for  tlic  adjustment  of  differences,  and  the  settle- 
ment of  l)oun(laries  between  tlie  two  jxiwers,  was  nef;-ociated 
hy  Mr.  I'.radstrect.  of  Ma<sac!iu>etts,  and  Mr.  Prince,  of 
Plymouth,  oil  tlu^  |i,ii't  oftlic  ( \)iiiini->ioiiers,  and  by  Thomas 
W'illet  and  (icoi'-v  I'.aMn-.  uii  tlic  part  of  the  Dutch  Gov- 
ernor, at  Hartford,  tliL'  I'.Hh  of  Septend)er,  1650. 

By  that  treaty  it  was  mutually  airi'eed,  with  regard  to 
the  boundaries  between  the  two  powers  on  Long-Island, 
"  That  a  line  run  from  the  Avestermost  part  of  Oysterbay, 
and  so  a  straight  and  direct  line  to  the  sea,  shall  be  the 
bounds  betwixt  the  English  and  Dutch  there.  The  east- 
erly part  to  belong  to  the  English,  and  the  westermost  to 
the  Dutch." 

"NVlien  Oysterbay  came  to  be  settled  by  the  English,  a 
di>pute  arose  between  tliem  and  the  Dutch  Gover)U)r, 
respi'ctiii--  till'  w  (■stcniio>t  limit-  of  rlic  bay  ;  and  this,  with 
the  delay  of  the  Stato  (iciici'al  to  i-atily  tlic  treaty,  fiir- 
iiislied  the  Diiteli  (iowruor  with  a  [uvtext  foi-  not  fultilliiig 
it. 

In  1659,  the  directors  of  the  West  India  Company 
ordered  the  Dutch  Governor  to  ei'i'ct  a  fort,  or  to  build  a 
block-house  on  their  ea>r  lia\,  in  onlei'  the  more  effectually 
to  resist  the  encroachnieiit>  of  the  Kniilir-li. 

In  1661,  the  Governoi'  infornuMl  them  that  lie  had  not 
begun  the  fort  on  Long-l>laiid,  near  <  )y>terl)ay.  liecause 
our  neighl)Ours  lay  the  boundarle-  a  mile  and  a  lialf  more 
■\ver>terly  than  w^e  do  ;  and  the  more  a>  your  lioiioui'>  are 
not  iiicriiied  to  stand  to  the  treaty  of  1 1 artford."  aii<l  al- 
though the  treat\'  \\a-  ratitied  hv  tlu'  State-  (ieiieral  tlie 
22d  i  el.niary.  I(i:>t;,  yet  it  >eeiii- 't hat  the  (.ovenior  never 
■wiiolly  relincpiisiied  his  claim  of  jurisdiction  over  that 
town,  or  a  part  of  it. 

In  June,  1656,  the  commissioners  of  the  Piuted  Colonies, 
ill  answer  to  a  communication  of  the  Dutcli  (iovernoi-,  re- 
i)roach  him  witli  still  continuing  to  ehiim  ( )ysti'rl)ay,  in  vio- 
lati(m  of  the  treaty  of  Hartford. 

These  di>]'utes  involved  the  people  of  Oysterbay  in  much 
dithculty  and  pei'ple.xity.  To  avoid  giving  ott'eiiee  to  one 
power  or  the  othei',  and  to  M-eiire  peace  and  ipiictno-,  they 
were  com])elle(l  tooli>erve  a  kind  of  neutrality  betw  een  the 
conten<liiig  ]iai'tics. 

Deeeinln'i-  .Hi.  1660,  they  resolved  by  a  vote  of  the  j^eople 
in  Town  meeting,  that  no  p)erson  should  intermeddle  to  pint 
the  town  either  under  tlie  Dutch  or  English,  iintil  the  dif. 


13 


fei-ence  between  tliem  should  be  ended,  under  the  penalty 
of  £50  sterling. 

January  8,  1662,  they  seem  to  have  taken  a  more  decisive 
part.  They  avowed  their  allegiance  to  the  King  of  Eng- 
land, and  resolved  to  defend  any  one  who  should  be  molested 
for  exercising  authority  among  them,  at  their  common  ex- 
lK'U>e. 

It  is  presumed  that  this  town  about  this  period,  united 
with  the  other  Euglish  towns  on  the  Island  east  of  Hemp- 
stead, in  tlieir  voluutary  submission  to  the  jurisdiction  of 
Connecticut. 

Of  the  order  in  which  the  several  Towns  on  the  Island 
■were  settled. 

Tlie  time  of  the  settlement  of  the  English  towns,  is  to  be 
collected  tVom  the  dates  of  their  respective  purchases  of  the 
iiativc>.  ami  that  of  the  Dutch  towns  tVom  tlio  grants  of  the 
(lov  enior,  or  from  the  original  rcc-ords  of  their  respective 
]irocee<liiigs.  From  these,  it  a}iiiears  that  the  first  settle- 
ment of  the  several  towns  on  the  Island,  was  commenced  at 


or  near  the  time,  and  iu  the  order  following : 

Brooklyn,      -   1636 

Flatlands,  originally  Amersfort,        -       -  1636 

Gardiners'  Island,   1639 

Southold,  -  1640 

Southampton,   1640* 

Hempstead,   1644 

Graveseud,     ------  1645 

Flushing,  originally  Vlusshingen,      -       -  1645 

East  Hampton,      -----  1648 

Flat  Bush,  originally  Midwout,  -       -       -  1651 

Shelter  Island,   1652 

Huntington,      ------  1653 

Oysterbay,  -  1653 

Brookhaven,      ------  1655 

i^ewtown,  originally  Middleburgh,        -  1655. 

Jamaica,  originally  Rustdorpe,  -       -       -  1656 

New-Utrecht,        -----  1657 


*  Although  a  few  settlements  were  first  made  by  individuals  in  the  Dutch  territories,  it  was 
some  years  before  the  number  was  sufficient  to  require  any  political  organization.  Brooklyn, 
thelatgestof  the  Dutch  villages,  did  not  choose  regular  magistrates  till  16i6,  though  some 
kind  of  authority  was  established  there  before.  On  the  contrary,  Southold  and  Southampton 
were  settled  by  regular  organized  societies,  governed  from  their  ori^n  by  laws  and  magis- 
trates, with  regular  churches.  A  house  for  public  worship  was  erected  at  Southampton  pre- 
vious to  1645,  the  first  in  the  Dutch  towns  was  commenced  in  1654 ;  so  that  although  there  were 
a  few  settlers  in  Brooklyn  and  Flatlands  before  16411,  they  did  not  become  towns  till  some 
years  after ;  and  the  towns  of  Southold,  Southampton,  and  probably  Eastliampton,  were  some 
years  in  advance  of  them  in  numbers,  in  orgiuization,  and  social  improvements. 


14 


P,u>lnvick.         .......  ir.OO 

Sinitlituwii,  imS 

isiii),  _  -     -  mm 

Till'  lands  ill  tlie  several  towns  in  Kinij,s  County  were 
]>iircliase<l  hy  the  Dutch  Governor,  or  with  his  consent,  and 
it  is  j>re.-unied  wholly  of  the  Canarsee  tribe  of  Indians. 

Jamaica  was  purchased  of  the  Canarsee  and  Uockaway 
tribes. 

Xewtowu  was  principally  purchased  of  the  liockaway 
Indians. 

Fliishinj^- was  ]iurchasc<l  by  tlic  Dutch  Governor,  it  is  bc- 
lievech  of  "the  Matinccoc  tril')c  ol'  Indians. 

Oysterbay  was  purclia^ed  of  the  Matinecocs. 

Hempstead  was  purchased  of  the  Kockaway,  Merikoke 
and  Marsapeafjue  tribes. 

II  untiiiiiton  \\  as  purchased  of  the  Matinecoc,  Marsapeague 
anil  Si'caraiiii'  tribe. 

Smith  Town  wa>.  by  the  ^roiitanh  sachem,  "Wyandance, 
given  to  Lyon  ( Tardli'ici'.  wli-  ^hl  it  to  Kidiard' Smith,  to 
whom  it  wa-  conriniird  by  the  X  i--a(|naL;uc  ^a(•hcnl. 

Brookhaven  was  purchased  of  the  Satanket  and  Patchogne 
tribes. 

South  Ohl  was  luircha^cd  of  the  Gorchaugs. 

Soiuh  Hampton         iiur.-l.a-i  (I  df  the  Sliinecoe  tribe. 
East  Hampton  wa-  purcha>r(l  of  the  Shinecoc,  Corchaug. 
Manha~>cr.  and  Montaidv  tribc>. 

Shelter  i>land  was  purchased  of  the  Manhasset  tribe. 
Of  Tnide. 

On  the  lirst  settlement  of  the  Island  the  snrjihis  ])roduce 
was  wanted  by  the  new  -cttl.'i--  :  iluring  this  ]icriod  they  had 
■little  trade  but  among  l  licm-rl\ c-,  money  wa>  \cry  >carce. 
contracts  were  made  in  |ii-oducc.  and  ^n^ine^s  wa^  carried  on 
by  barter  and  exchange-  ;  eoutraet-  for  the  sale  of  land  as 
well  ar-  others  were  made  in  pro(hice. 

+  Some  confusion  exists  in  the  dates  of  this  period,  and  an  event  may  have  taken  place  a 
year  before  or  a  year  after  it  is  stated  to  have  happened,  but  the  error  in  time  can  rarely 
exceed  a  y  ar. 

When  II  ■•  ••••mi  i';..n  l.\  II. ••  .•l,ri-ii:in  era  wa-  iiitr.^.ln>->-<I.  II  •.nim<'iir.^m.'(if  i.f  Hip  year 

was  ■     •.    ir-         i'  ■•'   Mil  ■  !    •■,  !  ,.  'i      ,1-    I        .   1  -  u  the 

25th  cii   ■  !      .  I  I  ■        I  •  ■       ■   ■  r  .tvie 

•in  IT."^"  ;i,  ,     I  ,  i;      .-,,■■.••,...  ,.„..„  out 

i.r  II  ••  :  .  .  •  .    .    ,•    .1    :  I'l  ,    ,:    .    I  ,         ,  •      :  i       •  •    • ,  i  I  eb- 

.••■     ^  .       :.■      .    I  :.-,^whO 

I  i  .  ■••  ,  I  .  'i       I;.  ;..i  I    :  111.   I  iiiir,  il  l.ail   I'.Tii   n-iial,  l.i  |.r.  -i-l'X     a  •a.rres- 

p"ii'l'  I  ••-•■III  I.I  1,1  ]■  haiii  iils,  In    \ .'  a  double  dalt-  trnin  the  ]>t  of  January 

to  til.  I  iiiis  Fehniarv  tlie  ^Ui,  IT/l,  was  written  February  the  Sth,  17«)-,  the 

omis.-i  :  lu.ber  would  cause  an  error  of  a  year.  w 


15 

In  1658,  the  town  of  Trcin]i>tea(l  au'reed  to  pay  tlie herds- 
men Avho  attriKU'il  tlicir  cattlr,  t\vcl\L'  .shilliui>s  sterling  a 
week,  payable  in  butter,  wlieat,  corn  and  oats,  at  stipulated 
prices. 

In  1659,  the  same  town  allowed  six  bushels  of  corn  for 
killing  a  wolf. 

In  lf;:i'.t,  till'  town  of  East  Hampton,  agreed  to  give  Tho- 
mas .laiiio,  their  ^Minister,  £60  a  year,  "  in  such  pay  as  men 
raise,  as  it  jia—c-  fi-uni  man  to  man." 

In  ir>r,;;,  the  town  of  Jamaica,  contracted  with  Zachariali 
Walkei'.  tbi'ii'  iiiini>tcr,  to  give  him  £60  a  year,  payable  in 
Avheat  and  coi-ii,  at  ti\c(l  [jrici-. 

In  1  <',64.  tlic  tow  11  of  ( ;nive>end,  contracted  to  give  a  man 
and  his  a->istaiit,  6U0  guilders,  to  guard  their  cattle  tliat  run 
at  large  during  the  sununer  season,  to  be  paid  in  "bacon  and 
corn.'' 

In  1670,  tlie  people  of  ISTewtown,  agreed  to  give  10  shil- 
h'ngs  a  ]iieco,  towards  erecting  a  meeting  honse,  to  be  paid 
"  half  in  corn  and  lialf  in  cattle." 

Ill  lil^O,  the  town  of  Huntington  contracted  with  a  car- 
])enter  to  make  an  addition  to  their  meeting  house,  to  be 
paid  in  produce  at  stijnilated  prices. 

In  16SO.  the  town  of  South  Hampton  agreed  to  give 
Joseph  Tayl.)r.  their  minister,  the  use  of  the  ]>arsoiiage,  four 
acres  in  their  ox  pasture,  one-fiftieth  in  the  cumnionage,  and 
one  hundred  acres  woods.  Also,  a  yearly  salary  of  £100, 
])ayable.in  winter  wheat  at  five  shillings  a  bushel,  summer 
w  iK'at  at  four  shillings  a  bushel,  Indian  corn  at  two  shillings 
and  >ix-pence  a  bushel,  tallow  at  six-pence  per  pound,  green 
hides  at  three-pence,  dry  iiides  at  six-pence  per  pound,  beef 
at  f  M'ty  shillings  the  barrel,  pork  at  £3  10  the  barrel,  or  three- 
pence the  pound,  whale  bone  at  eight  pence  the  pound,  and 
oil  at  thirty  shillings  the  barrel ;  to  be  collected  by  the  con- 
stable and  overseers,  or  by  men  to  be  appointed  by  them. 

In  1682,  the  town  of  Hempstead  agreed  to  give  Jeremiah 
Hobart,  their  minister,  the  use  of  the  parsonage,  and  three 
or  four  acres  of  land,  the  use  of  the  coiuinon  for  his  cattle, 
and  to  give  him  one  hundred  acres  of  land  where  he  chose 
to  take  it  up,  and  a  yearly  salary  of  £66, 11,  payable  in  corn 
and  cattle. 

Debts  wore  discharged — executions  satisfied,  and  rates 
paid  in  }iroduce.  The  rate  at  which  produce  was  taken  in 
payment  of  debts,  was,  the  price  which  the  merchants  gave 
for  the  like  articles  at  the  time. 

10 


16 


In  1654,  tlie  niaoistrates  of  East  irainpton  onloi-od  tliat 
the  town  rates  slioiild  he  paid  in  wheat  at  four  s]iilliii<;'s  juid 
six-peneeper  buslicd,  and  Indian  corn  at  three  shillinj^s  and 
six-pence. 

In  1665,  tlie  town  eonrt  of  Jamaica,  in  an  action  of  tres- 
]>ass,  <ja\e  judniiicnt  in  favor  of  the  ]ilaintitf  for  twelve 
•bnsliels  and  an  lialf  ot  wheat  foi-  ins  daniuucs. 

In  1(!T'.*,  tlie  town  coui-t  of  lluntini;ton  tiave  jndn'inent 
that  the  defendant  should  pay  the  deht  demanded  m  "  good, 
uiercluintable  pay,  at  the  (current  ])i-ice."' 

In  1680,  the  same  coui-t  <;av(>  judgment  for  the  deht,  and 
the  Constable  sol<  I  a  ln>ii>eitni|  lu't  .  ,n  execiit  i.  m  \nv  L'ln,  10, 
to  be  ])ai(l  in  "  mer'cliant.-dile  pay  at  the  eiiia'ent  price." 

Executions  issuing-  out  of  the  court  of  >e»ioii>,  were  also 
levied  in  jn'oduee,  but  it  \\a>  a|i]>rai>ed  hy  inditi'erent  men, 
chosen  hy  the  ])artie<  or  appointecl  liytlie  -heritf,  when  it 
Avas  deli\-ei-ed  to  the  plaintiff  In  >at  i-i'acl  ion  of  hi>  indiiiiient. 

The  prices  of  pi-oduce  ivceivahle  tor  county  rates,  were 
generally  tixed  by  the  (iovernur  ami  court  of  assi/e,  hut 
were  sometimes  submitted  to  the  court  of  ses>ions,  suhject  to 
the  revision  and  apjtroliation  of  the  (iovcruoi-. 

In  1665,  the  A»e»oi-s  of  the  r-e\ei-al  towns  were  ordered 
by  law  to  estimate  stock  at  the  following  rates  : 

A  horse  or  mare,  4-  years  old  and  uj)ward,     £12    0  <• 
Do.        do.     3  and  4       -       -       -  8    0  0 

Do.         do.     2  and  3    -       -       -  4    (»  (» 

Do.        do.     1  and  2       -       -       -  3    (i  0 

An  ox  or  bull  4  years  old  and  upward,   -  6    0  0 

A  cow  4  years  old  and  upward,       -       -  5    (»  0 

A  j-tet-r  or  heifer  between  3  and  4       -  4    0  <» 

Do.  do.      2  and  3  -       -  2  10  O 

Do.  do.      1  and  2      -  1  10  0 

A  goat  one  A'ear  old,        .       -       -       -  0    8  0 

A  sheep,    do.   0    6  8 

A  swine,    do.  -       -       -       -       -       -  10  0 

In  1679,  the  prices  fixed  at  wliich  produce  should  be  re- 
ceived for  county  rates  Avere  as  follows : 
Pork,      -       -       -       -       -       -    £0    0    3  per  Ih. 

P,eef,   -       -       -       -       -       -         0    0    2  do. 

AVinter  wheat,         -       -       -       -      0    4    0  i)er  bushel 

Sunmier  do.       -       -       -       -         0    3    6  do. 

Eye,        -       -       -       -       -       -      0    2    6  do. 

liulian  corn,        -       -       -       -         0    2    3  do. 

Oil,         -        -        -       -       -        -      1  10    0  per  barrel. 


17 


Contract  prices  of  various  articles 


0  per  barrel,  or 
0  do. 
(»  per  bushel. 
«  do. 
6  per  lb. 
4  do. 
2  do. 

from  1055, 
o  per  lb. 
2  do. 
(»  per  bushel 


'xl  per 
2d  (],.. 


lb. 


In  1687,  the  ])rices  of  produce  receivable  for  taxes  were  us 
follows  : 

Pork,         -  -       -    £3  10 

Beef,       -  -       -         1  10 

Wheat,      -  -       -     0  5 

Indian  corn,  -       -         0  2 

Tallow,      -  -  -00 

Dry  hides,  -       -         0  0 

Green,       -  -  -00 


to  1081 


do. 
do. 
d... 
per  lb. 
do. 
do. 

0  per  week. 
0  per  meal. 
2  j)er  night. 
2  ]ier  muii". 
<»  for  a  day  ;iiid 
0  per  (lav. 


Poi-k,  .  -  -  -  £0 
Beef,  -  -  -  -  0 
Wheat,  from  -  -  -  0 
Eye,  -  -  -  -  0 
Corn,  -  -  -  -  0 
Oats,  -  -  -  -  0 
Butter,  ----() 
Tallow,  -  -  -  -  (I 
IIoiTs'  tat,  -  -  -  -  0 
Board,  -  -  -  -  0 
Victuals,  -  -  -  -  0 
Lodging,  -  -  -  0 
Beer,  ....{) 

Pasture,-        -        -        -  o     1     (»  fm- a  dav  ;iiid  ni-ht. 

Labour, 

The  ])ractice  of  paying  in  produce  continued  unti 
the  year  170(1  ;  when  trade  had  rendered  money  plriity,  and 
introduced  it  into  general  circulation. 

Of  the  Character  of  the  first  Settlers  in  the  several  EiujUsh 
towns  on  Lninj-hhiud . 

The  English  towns  on  the  Lland,  both  on  the  Dutch  and 
English  territories,  were  settled  by  companies  of  individuals, 
the  most  of  whom  hail  Hist  laiidni  in  >oiiic  ])artof  Xewd'hig- 
land  ;  but  had  remained  there  only  ; 
in  some  iii>tances  t liaii  w  a^i  iiece>-a i' 
for  a  |iei-iiiaiieiit  re.-ideiice,  and  to  to 
ciatioiis  adeipiate  to  tiie  coiiiineiicei 

The  tir^t  settler^  of  S.,iith<i|(l.  re; 
Kew  Haven.  Tho-e  nt'  Soiithaiii] 
were  some  time  at  Lviin.     The  ik 


>iiorr  rime,  iirrie  longer 
to  >ele<-t  a  pi-.^per  place 
111  tlieiii>el\  e.-^  into  assu- 
eiit  ot'  new  M'tt lements. 
laiiied  a  .-hort  time  at 
loll  and  Mastham])ton, 
'[lie  of  Ilenip.-tead  had 


made  a  sIkuI  stay  tlist  at  Wetlieistield,  and  a-aiu  at  Stam- 
ford l»efore  they  tixed  themseKo  in  those  respective  towns. 
The  tirst  settlers  of  Easthampton  cai7ie  from  Maidstone, 


18 


in  Kent.  Tlie  first  eiettlers  of  Sontluvinpton  and  of  IFein])- 
stciui.  were  jtrobably  the  most  of  tlieni  from  Yorksliire  ;  and 
llie  lirst  settlors  of  most  of  tlio  otli(M"  towns,  seem  to  have 
lieen  collections  composed  of  individuals  fi'om  almost  everv 
part  of  Eno-laiid. 

"^riiese  coiiipaiiics  in  most  of  the  towns,  consistetl  at  first 
of  only  a  few  liimilic^. 

'J'he  first  -rt  1  lenient  of  Kastliampton  was  commenceil  by 
nine  families  ;  ut'  Snntliainpton.  hy  foni'teeii  ;  of  llnntiiigton, 
liy  eleven  ;  and  ut' (  )y>terliay.  by  ten  ;  but  in  all  these  eases, 
theeompany  in  advance  wa>  iinnuMlialely  followed  by  others, 
and  the  settlements  incivased  bv  the  con>tant  accession  of 


new  comers.  •• 

The  .M-i-iiial  >ettler>  ill  mu-t  uf  the  Kn-dish  towns,  both 
ill  the  hutch  and  l']]i:;-li-li  territoi-ie>,  were  principally  Eng- 
lish Indepeiident>  or  i're>byteriaii>.  and  partook  of  the  s])irlt 
and  temper,  which  at  the  time  of  tlieii-  emigration,  eharae- 
terizi'd  that  (das>  of  men  in  Kn-land. 

Many  of  the  fiist  settlers  in  the  >cveral  towns  on  the 
Island,  were  well  educated,  and  sensible  men — they  had  sus- 
tained a  good  -tanding  in  society,  and  left  reputable  con- 
ueetions  in  Kngland. 

The  early  records  and  public  documents  of  the  several 
towns,  evince  that  the  leading  men  among  them  had  a  cor- 
rect knowledge  of  the  laws  and  constitution  of  Kngland.  and 
were  well  ac(piainted  with  public  bn>iiies>. 

Tlu'y  left  Kngland  during  the  tui'bulent  time-,  in  the  reign 
of  Cha'rio  the  Kirst  ;  when  both  ci\  il  and  ivligious  liberty, 
wi're  prostrated  by  the  illegal  and  tyrannical  e\ten>ioii  of 
the  royal  prerogative,  and  by  the  intolerance  of  the  estab- 
lished Chui'cli.  supported  the  one  by  the  >tar  chamber,  and 
the  otIiiM-  b\  the  lii-h  (•.>mmi~~ioned'  c(.)urt.  before  the  al)oli- 
tion  of  thoe  engine-  ot  arbitrary  power. + 

*  In  lij.ii.  in  foulh  iriiijiii"!.,  iIm  r.'  «  nv  ...  «  r  .inns  iii  ihr  Miiitiii,  .-iiMl  drew  powder 

from  the  inHf;azine,  on  an  ;,larin        i-l  l.i  tin-  li-tilr        ..(  ih,^  Mm, tank  Indians. 

In  lii.i'.i.  Ill  ii.  iiMi>h-a'i.  iiu  ii;  \w  If  I..'  hi  au.^  ol  laiuilii  s  uiio  i-niii rai'i r.i  wiMi  me  herdsmen 
to  atten.l  tli.-ir  mttlr. 

In  iii^i.  in  iiniiiiiiL  n  II  in.  i,'  were  &4  enrolleu  on  the  assessment  hst.  the  chief  of  whom, 

prObllliU  .  v>  iTi'  In  .nK  ..1  l.iinilifs. 

In  in-  I  in  I  n,  Mm  n,n  ,  111,  iL'  wfie  il  freonoluers  who  shared  in  the  second  division  of  the 

lands  ill  II:  ,1  i..;u, 

'    In,     11, ,■  iMiinhri-  inniiir.',!  t,,  la];,,  iiic  oaiii  of  allegiance  to  the  neniy 
!    1.    l;i-  l.lMi  -I.  n  iilm^li       l  laHaii,!.-.  l^.  Itrecht41,  GravesendSl, 

'  .ilil-  n.  .nlnni  111,.  (•,.i,..iii,iiini:  ,.|  il,..  |-I.ni...|i  nf  FnKlaiid,  in  15S1 


estaoi 
Jail 
Bu3h\ 


It  I 

consianin  n.ii  la^s,  a  h\  in,,  iiisi  s  ini.  1111.11-  non -rciiiloi  iiiitv  ;  ami  siiiiiiussinii  lo  ti 

tjiiscopal  lyranny  was  enforced  uy  the  nigli  coiiiiiiissioiied  Conn. 
This  Court,  with  the  Star  Chamber,  was  abolished  in  1W2.  and  these  persecution 


19 


Tlieylled  from  tyranny  and  opi>rt'ssion,  and  \vere  ardently 
(lev(it(_'<l  to  tlie  cause  of  civil  lil)erty.  and  zealous  for  the 
])urity  an<l  siniplicitv  of  tlie  I'rototaiit  rcliii'ioii — thev  were 
zealous  of  their  rii;-hts  and  re>olute  in  thcii'  defence. 

They  hcM  tliat  l)y  the  IJritish  ( 'oii>rirntion.  the  people 
were  entitle! I  toa>harein  le^'islation,  aiul  that  their  pro] lerty 
could  not  he  taken  from  them  \vitlionr  their  con>ent.  That 
every  man  had  a  right  to  adopt  that  mode  of  wor>hiii  which 
lie  believed  most  agreeable  to  tlie  scriptures,  and  that  reli- 
gion was  essential  to  publicorder  and  >ocial  ha]ipine>^.  For 
the  unmolested  enjoyment  of  these  hles>ings,  they  had  for- 
saken the  scenes  of  civilization,  had  broken  asunder  the  ties 
which  b(umd  them  tu  their  native  soil,  had  encountered  the 
dangers  of  the  ocean,  and  had  sul)nutted  to  the  hazard-  and 
privations  of  a  new  and  savage  country,  and  they  were 
anxious  to  incorporate  these  })rinciples  in  their  new  estab- 
lishments, and  to  make  them  the  basis  of  their  social  and 
political  fabrics. 

Of  tin  i'n-il  ,in,J        Hn;/!  iu,i,(l Un,i,  of  the  fieveml  toicns 
ill  till'  Kiiylis/i  'JVrrlfori/,  bcfun-  tlic  coiKpHNt. 

The  several  towns  in  the  English  territory  were  not  under 
the  control  of  any  C(donial  government,  nor  had  they  any 
political  connection  with  each  other.  Being  too  remote  from 
the  mother  country  to  derive  any  aid  from  thence,  and  with- 
out connections  here,  the  whole  powers  of  (Tovernment  de- 
v(dved  on  the  inhabitants  of  eacli  town.  Self-}ire:-er\ ation 
rendered  it  absolutely  necessary,  that  they  should  a>^ume 
the  exercise  of  these  powers,  until  a  change  in  their  condi- 
tion should  supercede  the  necessity  of  it. 

Thus,  each  town  at  its  first  settlement  was  a  pure  demo- 
cracy, the  people  of  each  town,  exei-cist'd  the  sovereign  pow- 
er. All  questions  were  determined  1  ly  the  voice  of  the  major 
part  of  the  people  assembled  in  town  meeting.  In  this 
manner  they  formed  such  laws  and  regulations  as  they  judged 
necessary  for  the  security,  peace  and  prosperity  of  their  in- 
fant settlements. 

The  })eople  of  Southampton,  previous  to  their  settlement, 

pended  duiiriL;  the  Commonwealth;  but  after  tlie restorarinn  of  Charles  II,  in  16i)3,  tliey  were 
renewed  Ijy  the  act  uf  uniformity,  the  conventicle  act.  and  the  corporation  and  test  acts,  and 
continued  until  tlie  Revolution;  soon  after  which,  in  KilU.  the  toleration  act  w'as  I'assed, 
which  secured  to  the  dissenters  a  partial  and  qualifie'l  enjoyment  of  their  religious  rights,  but 
still  left  them  subject  to  many  ecclesiastical  oppressions. 

These  oppressions  contributed  to  people  the  United  States.  Most  of  the  first  settlers  on 
Long-Island  left  England  during  the  prevalence  of  these  oppressive  nieasuies,  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  I.  They  sought  an  asylum  princii)ally  f.ir  the  enjoymcit  nf  religious  freedom;  and 
they  and  their  posterity  have  ever  since  retaiii>/d  :in  aMHii  rence  of  tyraiiiiv  in  every  shape, 
and  have  always  been  the  devoted  friends  of  civil  and  religious  freedom. 

11 


20 


entered  into  a  social  eonti-act  witli  eacli  otliov,  to  be  fiovern- 
ed  by  such  laws  and  unlcis  ;i>  should  be  made  by  the  vote 
of  the  major  ])art  of  the  iiiliahitaiits ;  and  to  support  and 
maintain  tin-  aiitliui-ity  of  tlie  ma^i>ti-;itc>,  in  executing' such 
laws  and  oiili  r-  a-  >liouhl  be  in  force  ainoiin-  tliem. 

It  is  supplied  thai  the  people  of  Soulli  Old  entered  into 
a  similar  coiiijiact,  ]irc\  iou>  to  \\\r  >ctt  lenient  of  tliat  town. 

In  1  (■).").■).  the  people  of  Ma-tlianiptoii.  did  tlic  same  :  and 
it  is  presunieil  that  iNo>t,  it'  not  all  the  to\vn>  in  the  Kiiii'lisli 
teri'itory,  in  the  infancy  of  theii'  i-e>pective  ^ettlement>,  more 
or  less  foriindly  entered  into  similar  covenants  and  cond)i- 
nations,  or  adojited  >((mething  of  the  like  nature,  as  the  basis 
of  their  social  structure. 

In  1653,  the  town  of  Eastlnimj>ton  sent  for  a  copy  of  the 
laws  of  Connecticut  ;  and  ^elected  tVom  them  >uch  as  they 
judged  a]iplicalile  to  tlieircirenmstanco,  and  ailopted  tliem. 

In  1  t'p.M',  Sduthamjiton  did  the  >anie  ;  and  the  uiiiforniity 
observable  in  the  laws  of  tlieM'\ei'al  towns.  I'eiider  it  pruh- 
able  that  the  other  town>  did  the  like,  or  made  those  laws 
the  model  for  such  as  tliey  inadi'  tlieni-elves. 

The  Lii'eater  part  of  thiMi'  law  -.  I'ex i| ntioiis  and  orders  were 
framed  l'\  them-eh  (■>.  in  tlieir  I'opective  town  meetings — 
they  e.  .iiipri~ed  >ncli  provi^ion>  as  were  re(pdred  by  their 
pectdiai'  -irnatioii  and  >\u-\i  as  are  necessary  to  the  well  being 
of  every  S(  n-iety. 

The  iir>t  rla.~'>  of  aet>  relate(l  totlie  division  of  tlieii' lands 
— the  enclo>iii'e  ot'  (•(iiiiiiinii  tiehU  tor  cnltix  atioii  and  pa-ture 
— to  regulation>  re-jiecting  teni-e>,  liighwav-  and  watering 
places — resjiecting  cattle,  slieeji  ami  hoi--e-.  tliat  run  at 
large,  and  in  the  common  tields  ;  and  i-e>pecting  tlie  de- 
struction of  wild  beasts. 

The  second  class  of  acts  made  provision  for  the  public  de- 
fence— for  the  collection  of  taxes — for  the  education  of 
youth — for  the  preservation  of  good  morals — for  tlie  support 
of  religion ;  and  for  the  suppression  and  punishment  of 
crime-  and  offences. 

One  (.1'  the  first  measures  adopted  in  every  town,  was  to 
recjuire  e\  cry  man  to  ])rovide  himself  with  arms  and  ;immuiu- 
tion  ;  and  tM  i  tiihic  lit  an  appointeil  place,  when  warned, 
under  a  penall  \  loi'  ueiilcet  in  any  of  tlie>e  res]>ects. 

In  several  of  the  tow  tlie  fiist  >ettlei->  erected  a  small 
fort  or  block  hon>e.  foi-  tlieii- >t'curity.  The>e  precautions 
were  probably  taken  to  guard  against  the  Dutch,  as  well  as 
the  Indians,  at  least  in  the  western  towns. 


21 


The  men  capable  of  beariiif!;  arm?  in  every  town,  were  or- 
ganized into  eom])aiiies,  under  prctper  dtticer:- ;  and  M-ere  re- 
quired to  meet  at  stated  times,  for  inspection  and  exercise. 

In  1642,  the  Military  Company  of  Southampton  was  re- 
quired to  meet  six  times  a  year  for  these  purposes. 

The  public  expenses  were  defrayed  by  a  tax,  the  amount 
of  which  was  tixed  by  a  vote  of  the  people,  in  a  general 
town  meeting ;  and  the  rates  were  made  and  gathered  by 
persons  chosen  for  that  purpose. 

The  salaries  of  the  tirst  ministers  in  most  of  the  towns, 
seem  to  have  been  raised  as  other  taxes,  by  an  assessment 
on  all  the  inhabitants,  according  to  the  (piantity  of  land  they 
had  taken  up. 

A  school  was  establislied  in  Ea>rlianipt(ni.  in  tlie  infancy 
of  the  settlement;  and  the  teacher  \\-as  allowed  a  salary  of 
£33  a  year. 

Among  the  records  of  Huntington  for  1657,  tliere  is  a 
draught  of  a  contract  with  a  school  master  for  three  years, 
at  a  salary  of  £25  for  the  first  year,  £35  for  the  second,  and 
£40  for  the  third ;  and  it  is  presumed  that  schools  were 
established  in  all  the  towns  at  an  early  period  of  their  settle- 
ment. 

The  more  eft'ectually  to  preserve  the  purity  of  tlie  pi;blic 
morals,  they  excluded  from  their  society  such  as  they  judged 
would  be  likely  to  injure  them. 

The  land-  were  purchased  and  held  l)y  the  first  settlers, 
and  tliey  could  dispose  of  them  to  whom  they  pleased.  This 
power  was  an  important  engine  in  their  hands,  for  the  pre- 
servation of  good  morals ;  and  it  seems  to  have  been  efii- 
ciently  employed  for  that  purpose. 

In  the  year  1651,  the  town  of  East  Hampton  ordered  that 
a  lot  should  not  be  laid  out  for  a  certain  individual,  and 
that  he  shoxild  not  stay  in  the  town. 

In  1662,  the  people  of  Huntington,  by  a  vote  of  the  town 
meeting,  appointed  a  committee  consisting  of  their  Minis- 
ter and  six  of  their  most  respectable  inhabitants,  to  examine 
the  characters  of  those  who  came  to  settle  among  them, 
■u-ith  power  to  admit  or  to  refuse  admission  to  them,  as  they 
judged  they  would  be  likely  to  benefit  or  injure  the  society  ; 
with  a  proviso  that  they  shoidd  not  exclude  any  "  that  were 
honest,  and  well  approved  of  by  honest  and  judicious  men  f 
and  forbid  any  inhabitant  to  sell  or  let  house  or  land,  to  any 
one  but  such  as  should  be  approved  of  by  the  said  commit- 
tee, under  the  penalty  of  £10,  to  be  paid  to  the  town. 


22 


III  ItiCiS,  tlie  sMiNc  tnwii  I'urliid  iiiiy  iiiliabitaiit  to  entertain 
a  certain  obnoxit. 11-  iiidiv  iiliial,  longer  than  the  space  of  a 
Aveek,  either  <>:ratiiitou>lv  nv  for  pay,  nnder  tlie  i)enaltv  of 
40  sliillings,  for  the  lircacli  of  tlie  orih'r  "  nuuk'  for  tlie  peace 
of  the  town." 

It  seems  to  have  liccii  adoiilcd  a>  an  iiidis|icii<ahU!  ride, 
in  all  the  KiiL;li>li  to\\ii>  on  the  l>laiid,  tli;it  no  person 
should  be  admitttMl  to  >v\\\r  aiiiong  tlicni  w  ithout  the  appro- 
bation of  the  inhabitants,  or  of  a  uiajority  of  thcui. 

The  tirst  settlers  in  the  several  towns,  also  adopted  everv 
lirecaution  in  their  power,  to  prevent  their  hou>cs  of  enter- 
tainment from  beconun^-  injurious  to  the  i>ul>lic  nioi'als. 

In  K!,")!,  the  town  of  Kast  Hampton  ]iasscd  an  act  foi-liid- 
ding  any  persons  to  sell  any  li(|Uorl>ut  >nch  a- were  deputed 
by  the  town  for  that  ])urposc.  and  a]>o  forhidding  >uch  per- 
si)ns  to  sutler  youth  and  sm-h  as  were  under  other  men's 
mamigenient,  to  rt'main  drinking  at  uu>ea>onal  ih'  hours,  and 
that  they  should  not  let  them  lia\e  more  than  luilf  a  pint 
among  four  men. 

In  KJoO,  the  town  of  Ilemiistead  established  a  house  of 
entertainment,  and  enjoine<l  it  n]}on  the  keeper  "  to  keep 
such  order  that  it  might  not  be  oftensiveto  the  laws  of  God 
or  the  place/' 

In  1660,  the  town  of  Huntington  established  a  house  of 
entertainment,  and  to  ensure  good  ordei\  made  the  con- 
tiniuuice  of  the  keeper  to  depend  on  the  correctness  with 
which  he  ili-eharged  bis  trust. 

The  first  settlers  of  the  several  towns  in  Sutfolk  County, 
and  the  tirst  settlers  of  Hempstead,  made  provi-ion  for  the 
supportof  the  Gospel  among  them,  in  the  infancy  of  their 
settlements;  and  the  tirst  settlers  of  .lamaica  and  Xewtown 
did  tlie  like  in  an  early  period  of  their  settlemi'uts.  The 
tirst  settlers  were  careful  in  exacting  punctual  attendance 
on  public  woiNhip,  and  a  sti-Ii  t  olKei  \ance  t)f  the  Sabbath, 
and  in  preventing  every  kind  ot  |iet-onal  injury. 

In  If.r.d  the  town  of 'Hempstead  rt'>ol\  ed  that  if  any  per- 
son neglecteil  to  attend  public  worshi|)  without  a  i'ea>onable 
excuse  he  should  pay  fix'e  guilders  for  the  tii-t  olfeuce,  ten 
for  the  second,  and 'twent\-  for  the  thli'd;  and  that  if  he 
afterwards  i-e|>eated  the  otVence.  hi'  >hoiiM  he  liahle  either 
to  an  agi!'ra\ at  ion  of  the  tine,  to  coi-poi'al  ]  hi  ii  id  i  nient,  or 
bain>hiucnt.  About  the  >aine  period  the  t^w  n  of  Kast 
Hamilton  ordercil  that  Ho  Indian  >hould  traxel  up  and  ijown, 
or  carry  any  Inirden  in  oi-  through  the  town  on  the  ISabbath 


23 


day  ;  and  that  whosoever  should  be  found  so  doing,  should 
belialdc  tu  corporal  punishment. 

The  tdwii  (if  East  IIam])ton  ordained  that  whosoever 
should  >laii(lci-  any  uiic.  ^IkhiIi]  1m'  liable  to  jiay  a  fine  of  £5. 

The  --.uwr  tdwii  nnlaiiK'cl  that  wl n i-oever  should  arise  up 
a  fabe  witii('>-  a:^aiii>t  any  man,  to  tt'stity  that  which  is 
Avnuiii',  tlici-f  :-li(inlil  be  dune  uiito  liini  as  he  thuULiht  to  have 
done  uiitu  lii-  iiciLililxir.  whether  it  .-huuld  he  tu  takino- awav 
of  life.  liiiiK.  o-,MMb. 

The  -aiiie  t«i\\  II  oi'dered  that  if  any  one  should  strike  an- 
other he  sbould  pay  a  tine  often  shilliiii:'^  to  tlie  town  ;  and 
that  if  smiting  he  >Iionl<l  wound,  lie  >]ionld  pay  for  the  cure 
and  the  time  the  pei'son  was  thereliy  ]iindei'e(l. 

To  secure  the  administration  of  justice,  and  to  p)revent 
and  punish  offences,  a  court  was  e>talili~lied  in  every  town, 
in  the  Knglish  territory,  called  the  town  court  :  it  was  corn- 
]Hwed  -vnerally  of  three  Ma-i^tratc-.  a  clei-k  ami  con-table, 
who  were  cluisen  annually  \>y  the  people  in  their  re^]iective 
town  meetings. 

The  people  of  the  respective  towns  invested  their  town 
(•(turt  with  power  to  hear  and  determine  all  causes,  civil  and 

The  jirocei'ilings  of  the  courts  in  the  several  towns,  were 
governed  by  the  principles  of  the  ( "oinniou  Law.  The  ]>arties 
were  entitled  to  a  jury,  if  either  of  them  reipiired  it.  The 
jury  consisted  of  >e\-en  men,  and  the  verdict  was  decided  by 
the  voice  of  the  majority. 

In  most  of  the  towns,  the  decisions  of  the  town  court 
were  conclusive;  but  in  South  Hampton,  an  ai>peal  lay 
from  the  decisions  of  the  town  court  to  the  general  town 
meeting,  called  the  general  court,  which  heard  the  apjieal, 
and  gave  such  judgment  as  was  deemecl  ju>t  and  right  be- 
tween the  parties. 

The  officers  of  the  town  courts  frcipiently  made  (.>rders 
relative  to  matters  whicli  concerneil  the  weU'are  ot'  the  town, 
which  seem  to  have  had  the  same  force  and  etfect  a~  the  re- 
solutions of  the  town  meeting,  from  whicli  it  i-  pre-umed 
that  they  were  invested  with  }iower  for  this  purpo.-e.  liy  the 
voice  of  the  people. 

The  respective  town  courts  were  vigilant  in  repre^sing  and 
punishing  all  kimb  of  vice  and  profanity. 

In  1653,  the  to\\  ii  court  of  South  Hampton  ordered  that 
if  any  pers(in  over  f  mrteen  years  of  age,  shoidd  he  convict- 
ed of  wilful  Iviuii-,  In-  the  testimony  of  two  witnesses,  he 
12 


24 


should  1)('  fiiioil  five  sliilliii;i-s,  or  set  in  the  stocks  five  liours. 

Tlic  siiiiK'  (tourt  at  tlie  same  time  ordered  tliat  if  any  ])er- 
son  sliould  he  convicted  of  (h'Uid<enness, lie  sliould  he  fined 
ten  shilHngs  for  the  first  otfence,  twenty  for  the  seC(jii(hHnd 
tliirty  for  the  tliinh 

111  1(582,  the  town  court  of  IIuntiiiLituu  ordei'ed  tlie 
estate  of  a  certain  ])erson  who  wa>  llki  l\  t<i  >|K'nd  it,  to  he 
seized,  tliat  it  iniiilit  ])e  secured,  j)rc-fi  \ cd  and  improved  for 
liis  liveliliood  and  maintenance,  tmd  that  the  town  might  not 
he  (Uimnified. 

Tlie  same  town  i-ourt  ordcrcil  tlnit  a  iicismi  wlm  was  cdii- 
victed  of  hriii-ing  a  hag  nf  iiir;d  iVdiii  (  )y-1rrliay  to  iluut- 
ington  on  the  Sal.liatli.  >huHld  pay  a  line  of  ten  ^liilling>,  or 
make  such  acknuwledgmment  for  th(>  otfence  as  the  court 
would  acce])t. 

In  rT(»2.  the  town  coui-t  of  South  Old  fined  a  ]H'V>im  (Is.  7 
for  a  hreach  of  the  Sal.hath. 

In  1711,  the  same  court  fined  a  p)erson  three  shillings  for 
profane  swearing. 

Two  cases  of  witchcraft  occurred  on  Long-Island. 

In  ir)r.7,  a  Mv<.  ( ;;,rlickc  was  hi-ouglit  hclo'iv  the  town  court 
of  Ka>t  Hampton,  on  -n-picion  <>['  w  itclicraft .  ami  ;i  ninnlier 
of  witnc>^c-  wci-c  cNMniiiicil  in  >nppoi-i  of  1  lie  cli;irgc.  The 
Magi~ti-ati-.  after  lic.-ii-iii-  the  t(-tlinony.  conclndcc]  to  send 
her  to  ( 'onncciicul  for  Ihnhcr  trial,  tlu-  rc-ult  of  which  is  not 
known. 

In  1665,  Ralph  Hall  and  his  Avife  were  accused  of  witch- 
craft at  Brookhaven.  and  tlic  cause  was  ti'ic(|  hefore  the  court 
of  assize  at  Xcw-^'oi'k.  and  tcrniinatcil  in  tlicii'  ac(piittal; 
an  account  of  wliii'li  pnMi-hcd  in  tlic  Appendix  to  ^'ato' 
continnation  ot'  Smitir~  lii~toi'\  of  New-York. 

Cinler  the  lienign  inthicnce  of  tlie  Common  Law  and  of 
regulat  ion>  made  \>\  tlieni-el\  e-  and  eiit'oi'ccd  hy  agistrates. 
annually  eliox'n  at  tlieirtow  n  nieei  ing-.  t  lie  people  ot'  tlu; 
several  towns  in  I  he  l^ngli>li  territor\  >eem  to  lia\i'  enjoyed 
the  usual  henefits  of  good  government,  and  to  have  prospered 
as  well  as  those  settlements  that  were  under  an  organized 
government. 

Of  111  en'  f^nlon  vifh  Connedlctd. 
The  several  Knglish  towns  on  Lon^-  Island,  tliat  wei'c  set- 
tled under  the  autluirity  of  the  l^arl  of  Siii-ling.  iind  under 
the  English  claim  to  the  Island,  w  ere  exposed  to  interruption 
hoth  hy  the  Dutch  and  Indians. 


25 


III  order  to  secure  tlie  power  and  infliu'iice  of  the  'New- 
Eiiglaiid  culonio  to  lu-utect  tlieiii  a^'aiii-t  tlic  perils  of  their 
coiiditidii,  they  very  early  suiight  a,  cuuiieftiun  witli  those 
colonies. 

The  several  towns  joined  Connecticut  at  different  times 
— Soutli  TTaiiii>ton,in  IfU-t^East  ITaiii])ton.  iit  1  (;:)7~-r.ru(.k- 
haven,  in  ir,yj — 11  mitiiiu'tmi,  in  HiCin.  and  ()\-tcrl>av  pruha- 
bly  in  lOtL^— South  Old  jnined  X<'\v-ll  as  fli  in  Ki-ls,  and 
with  that  colony  was  united  w  ltli  ( 'oiineeticut  in  lUCi!. 

The  towns  of  Hartford.  Wind>or  and  Wetlier>tield,  in 
1639,  formed  an  union  foi-  their  mutual  lienidit.  and  framed 
a  constitution  hetter  calculated  to  secure  liliei-tyand  i^-ood 
ii'overnment,  perhaps,  than  any  that  had  ever  ht'fore  been 
formed.  Tlii>  cdmpaet  eun-tituted  the  government  and  ori- 
,L;-imd  jurisdictiun  < d' ( 'on nect ieut. 

Coniu'ctii-ut  was  at  fir>t.  and  foi'  >i>\\tr  vears.  without  tlie 
autlnu'ityof  a.  patent,  ami  in  faet,  Imd  no  le^'al  jui-ixliction 
beyond  the  Ijounds  of  rlm-e  three  to\\  ii>  and  >ucli  a>  joined 
them.  The  several  tow  ns  on  the  Island  were  received  under 
her  jurisdiction  on  their  voluntarv  otfer,  aiul  at  their  own 
solicitation. 

By  the  union  tliey  became  mendjers  of  the  body  p(ditic  of 
Connecticut,  and  were  entitled  to  the  benefits  and  liableto 
the  duties  of  the  other  t(  iwns  within  hei"  jurisdiction,  and 
became,  in  common  with  them,  entitled  to  the  protection  of 
the  united  colonies. 

The  several  towns  became  entitled  to  seiul  de])uties  to  the 
<>-eneral  Court  at  Hartford  ;  and  it  app(^ars  that  the  towns 
of  South  Hampton  and  h,a>r  Hampton  av  ailed  themselves 
cif  the  privileue,  and  sent  de[iuties  to  Hartford  as  Soilth  Old 


*  Tlie  supreme  power  was  vested  in  a  Governor,  Deputy-Governor,  and  a  Council,  or  assist- 
ants, to  be  annually  chosen  by  all  the  freemen  of  the  Colony,  with  deputies  to  be  chosen  half- 
.Vearly  in  each  town  by  the  freeineQ  of  the  toun.  It  was  ordained  that  the  General  Court,  or 
Assembly  composed  of  tliese  otlicers,  should  meet  twice  a  year,  and  should  have  power  to 
make  laws  and  repeal  them— to  impose  and  collect  taxes— to  admit  freemen  to  dispose  of  the 
liublic  lands— to  establish  courts— appoint  public  otlicers,  and  for  good  cause  to  di  place  them, 
or  punish  them,  and  to  do  all  other  acts  for  the  good  governiuentof  the  commonwealth,  exceiit 
that  of  electing  the  Governor,  Council,  and  Assembly,  which  was  to  remain  the  exclusive 
province  of  the  freemen. 

t  Deputies  or  Assistants  to  the  General  Court  from  Long-Island  : 


Southampton, 


1655,    -       -       Thomas  Topping, 
]6")(i,      -      -  do  -  - 

1057,    -      -  do. 
1(158,       -      -   Alexander  Knowles, 
165.),   -      -      Thomas  Topping, 
1060,      -      -  do  -  - 

lf61,    -      -  do 

1662,  -      -  do.  -  - 

1663,  -      -      Mr.  Howell, 

Deputies  from  South  Old  to  New-IIaveu 
1662,  Barnabas  Horton,  John  I'urrier. 


Mr.  Mulford, 
Robert  Itond, 


Mr.  Baker, 
do. 


do. 
do. 


0 

0 


26 


Tlie  want  of  Icg-al  autliurity  in-cvciitcil  tlio  oxcM'cise  of  any 
aiitlidritatiw  jurisdiction  bv  (  ' hi  lu  i  t  lent  (i  \  ci-  tlie  towns  on 
.Lon^'-Island  l)ffore  slie  ret-cixc-tl  the  cliaiter  granted  l)y 
("harles  II.  in  l»i(;i>. 

It  does  not  apiiear  tliat  slie  attempted  to  estaldisli  eonnties, 
ortjani/e  cuurt:-,  nr  lc\ y  ta\i'>  tlici-c  hcfui-c  tliat  jn'i-iud. 

Tlif  iiuiuii  x'ciii-  t(i  iia\  (■  i-(-ciiiMcd  an  alliiiiirc  l',,v  niutnal 
consultarioii  and  dereiicr.  rathci-  than  a  cuiim ilidatr(l  "xuvern- 
mcnt. 

The  charter  of  Connecticut  graiite<l  l>y  C'liai-les  II.  was  re- 
ceived in  I*)(»2.  It  was  very  similar  in  its  pi-ox  isidii  to  tlie 
constitution  adopted  in  163!>,  and  was  little  mure  than  a  de- 
A'elo[)ment  of  them. 

The  liberal  |ir(i\  i>i(>iis  of  the  new  charter  made  llu'  several 
towns  on  ]j>nii-d-^land  \  ery  de-ii-oii~  to  |iei-|>et  iiati'  their  con- 
nection M'ith  that  colony.  l.oiiM-l^hind  wa-iiot  mentioned 
in  the  charter,  but  the  name-  of  >oiiie  ot'  the  nKii;i>ti-ates  of 
one  or  more  of  the  towns  were  iii>erted  among  those  who 
were  to  admiui-ti'r  it. 

Aclause  in  tlie  new  charter  annexing  the  adjacent  Islands 
to  that  colony,  al-o  t'lii'iii-hed  her  with  a  ]irete\t  to  claim 
Long-l~land  : '  and  it  \\  a-  donbtle>>  with  the  coii>cnt.  if  not 
at  the  instance,  of  the>e\ei'al  towns  on  tlit/  I>land  that  had 
joined  her  jurisdiction,  that  she  >et  up  a  con-tiaiction  of  her 
charter,  which,  if  it  could  have  been  su>taim_'(l.  would  have 
embraced  all  the  English  towns  on  the  Island,  and  the  whole 
Island  after  the  conqnest. 

After  the  reception  of  the  I'oyal  ehartei-.  the  gem-ral  court 
of  Connecticnt  claimed  tlie  legal  jm•i^dictioll  i i\ci'  the  fhig- 
lish  towns  on  Long-l>l;ind  which  had  put  tiieni-el\c>  under 
her  ]irotection,  and  had  become  member-  of  her  a>-ociarion. 

The^e  ti.i\vn>  wviv  jxn'mittcd  to  >end  depntie-  to  thegiMi- 
eral  court,  and  were  lialde  to  the  >ame  dutie-  a-  the  other 
towns.  Each  town  was  entitled  to  -end  our  deputy  to  the 
general  assendjly,  bnt  were  wholly  leit  at  lihei  t  x  to^endone 
or  not  as  they  cliose. 

The  general  conrt  ai>pointed  such  ]iublic  officers  in  the 
several  to\vii>  a>  were  not  pennitted  bv  the  charter  to  be 
cho>en  by  the  pe,.plc. 

Api-il  (Jill  ItiC,;;,  the  town  of  Huntington  chose  three  nieJi 
whose  names  were  to  be  sent  to  I!ai'tf>rd  i'n\-  the  general 
court  to  elect  two  out  of  the  nmubcr  a>  niagi>ti'ates  for  the 
town. 

The  general  court  ordered  a  contribution  to  be  levied  on 


27 


the  towns  on  tlie  Island.  a>  well  as  n\\  tliusf  on  tlie  main, 
towards  the  iKivniciit  i>\'  ]\\v  r\\n-]\rr  nf  ilic  new  rliartci',  and 
it  would  .-(.HMii  that  tlicv  were  -iiljjcct  to  ta\r>  in  tlie  same 
manner  as  other  tuwiis  witliiii  liei'  jiirisdieti( m. 

In  lt!64.  tlie  town  (if  South  Jlamiitun  ajipointod  men  to 
make  the  I'ate  •■  hoth  in  i-e>pect  to  Hartford  and  tlii-  town." 

May  ]i!tli.  \iU'A.  llie  L;'euei-al  court  procecMh^d  to  o|--;iuize 
the  e()urt>  on  the  I>hind  on  the  phin  of  tho>e  of  Couneeti- 
ent. 

For  tliis  purpose  they  a]>])ointed  a  j^ovenior  and  three 
others  to  -o  to  the  Ishiiid  to  settle  the' Eiiirlisli  plantation 
there  uii(h'i'  the  ;^d\eruinent  of  ( 'ounecticut,  to  establish 
(piai'ter  (•ou]'t>  and  otiiei'  court-.  t'oi-  the  adunnistratiou  of 
ju-tice;  pro\  ided  their  jii<l-iiiciit-  -hoiild  not  extend  to  life, 
lind),  or  hauislniieiit  and  dirt'cteil  capital  cases  to  he  ti-ied 
at  Fairfield  oi-  Hartford. 

These  Coiiiiiii  — ioiier-  caiiie  upon  the  IslandinJnne  L664, 
or<i-aidzed  coiirl>,-^  e-taldi^hed  rule>  for  the  collecti(.)n  of  rates 
ami  othei-  nialteiN;  liut  theii-  arran--eiiieiit>  weri'  all  frus- 
trate^l  hef  ire  they  could  he  carried  into  ell'ect,  hy  the  con- 
(ple^t  of  the  Dutch  territoi-ie>,  and  the  annexation  of  Long 
Island  t(»  the  -ov.M-nnieiit  of  the  l)id<e  of  York. 

Lonii'-l>land  w  a>  not  coinpi-i-ed  in  the  i;-rant  of  anv  colony. 
It  had  l.een  -rant.'d  hy  order  of  Charles  I.  to  WiU'iani  Farl 
of  Stirling,  hut  had  heen  reliutpdshed  to  the  cj'own,  or  to 
the  Duke  of  York  hy  hi^  heirs,  ami  left  free  to  he  nuule  the 
subject  of  anew  grant,  or  to  he  ineluded  in  the  jtatent  to 
him. 

March  iL'th.  ICiCi-l-.  Charles  II.  hy  letters  patent,  granted 
the  (-(nniti'v  occupied  hv  tlie  Dutch,  together  with  Long- 
Ishiml.  to  hi>  hrother  .lame-,  the  Duke  of  ^'oi'k. 

A  few  nioiitli^  after  the  date  .iflii-  patent,  the  Duke  of 
"^'ork  pr<icureil  a  -(piadroii  with  xmie  land  forces,  to  he  fitted 
out  foi'  the  j'eduction  of  the  territories  coni|iri-ed  within  his 
grant,  under  the  coniniand  of  Colomd  Richard  Xicolh.  whom 
he  a[ipointe(l  to  assume  the  government  of  the  countr\-  as 
deputy  (iovernoi-  umler  him.  and  with  whom  the  King  as- 
sociated Colonel  (ieoige  Cartwright.  Sir  Rohert  Carr,  and 
Samuel  Ma,veri(ds'.  F-^p.  a-  (  dnnin»ioner>.  w  ith  power  to 
tlx  the  boundaries  hetweeiithe  several  colonies,  to  adjust  all 
differences  l)etween  them,  and  to  settle  the  country  in  peace. 

*  The  Committee  of  the  General  Assembly  established  a  court  for  the  thi-ee  towns  of  East- 
Uamptoii,  South  llaiiiptdn,  anil  South  Olil,  to  be  hohlen  four  times  a  year,  twice  at  South- 
Uamjiton,  aii4  oiu'e  in  t-'acli  of  tlie  otlier  towns,  and  appointed  three  Commissioners,  one  in 
each  town,  to  hold  the  taid  court. 

13 


28 


Tlic  CoininissidiH'is  lamled  at  Boston  on  tlioir  way  to 
Xew-York.  and  r(  i|n('>tc(|  that  tliat  colonv  would  raise  two 
huiidi-ed  men  and  >cnd  tliciii  on  to  assist  such  troops  as  they 
had  hruiiii'lit  ah)n<i-  with  tlieni  in  reducing  the  Dutch. 

The  i'c(|uest  ot'tlie  (Commissioners  was  readily  assented  to, 
hut  siili-(  i|iiriit  events  rendered  the  aid  unnecessary  before 
it  cuuld  1m.  fiinii-lird. 

Tlic  ('(iiiiiiii--iiHi(  is  landed  at  Crravescnd,  on  the  west  end 
of  Long-I>hii:d.  alM.iit  tlic  niiddlcMf  Au-n~t.  ]tu;i.  They 
summoned  tlic  i-ji-Ii-h  uu  the  1-laiid  to  attend  thcni  at  that 
place,  and  Governor  Winthrop,  of  ( \)nnecticut,  met  them 
there. 

Colonel  Xicolls  exhibited  to  the  (xovernor,  and  such  as 
were  there  a->fndilcd.  the  letters  })atent  to  the  Duke  of  York, 
with  his  own  n  luinii— ii>n. 

Colunel  Nicdlh  dciiian<lcd  a  >uiTciidor  nf  the  country. 
promi>inL:-  lite.  liliei-t\  and  |irii|iei'ty  to  tlie  iidialiitant>  i>n 
their  -uliiiii->i( hi.  ( iov  ,tii( h-  \\'iiitlii-<i]i  wnite  \<>  the  Dutch 
(rovei'ih i'ee(iiiiiiieii(liiii:'  a  >uiTendei' thr  tenii~  ottered, 
and  altera  lew  (la\~  had  heen  >|ient  in  iiie->a-e- and  letters 
between  Colonel  XicoUs  and  the  Uiitch  (iovernur.  the  place 
was  surrendered  to  the  Comnd.-sioners  the  liTth  August,  old 
style. 

Governor  Winthrop,  after  seeing  the  letter-  patent  to  the 
Duke  of  York,  informed  the  Engli>li  on  heng-I-land.  that 
Connecticut  luid  no  longer  any  claim  to  the  I>land:  that 
what  they  had  done  was  for  the  wellai'e.  peaee  ami  (piiet  >et- 
tlenient  of  his  "NrajotyV  subjects,  a-  they  were  the  neai'est 
organized  gii\'ei'nment  t(i  them  umler  hi-  Maje-ty;  Knt  now 
his  Majesty"-  jdea^u re  wa>  fully  >ignitie<l  l.y  hi-  letter-  patent, 
their  jurisdiction  ceased  and  became  null. 

It  >eenis,  however,  tliat  the  eiilmiy  of  Connecticut  was 
still  doirous  of  retaining  Long-I-laml  under  her  jurixliction, 
and  the  several  townsonthe  l-laml  which  had  been  cmnect- 
ed  with  that  colony,  were  a>  auxiuu-  that  the  couiLec  tion 
should  b(-  continued. 

ZS'oveudier  :!<>.  ir;t;4,  the  Coinnussioners  met  to  settle  The 
boundary  between  Coiiiu'cticut  ami  the  Duke  of  York,  and 
and  aftei-  hearing  the  allegation-  of  the  deputie-  wlio  attend- 
ed from  Long-I>land,  a>  well  a-  tlm-e  who  attended  iVom 
Connecticut  in  favour  of  connecting  boiig-l-laml  with  that 
colony,  they  deternuned  that  the  >outh  houmlary  of  Con- 
necticut was  the  Sound,  and  that  1j  iiig-l>land  w  a>  to  be  under 
the  government  ol'  his  Royal  Highness  the  Didvc  of  York. 


29 


OF   THE    ECCLESIASTICAL    STATE  OF  THE  SEVERAL    TOWNS  ON 
THE  ISLAND. 

Of  the  Dutch  Towns. 

The  people  of  the  Dutch  towns  professed  tlie  doctrhies 
inculcated  by  the  Synod,  held  at  Dort,  in  Holland,  in  1618. 
and  Avere  under  the  ecclesiastical  government  of  the  classis 
of  Amsterdam,  until  1772,  when  the  Dutch  Church  of  this 
country  established  an  independent  classis  and  synods  on 
the  model  of  the  Church  in  Holland. 

Each  town  had  its  own  consistory,  but  the  wliole  consti- 
tuted but  one  church.  Their  miiii>tcis  were  cdI leagues, 
preached  in  turn  in  all  the  churches,  and  were  supported 
by  a  common  contribution. 

The  first  house  for  public  Avorship  that  was  erected  by  the 
Dutch,  was  built  in  Ncw-Aiii>tci-daiii,  101:2. 

December  17,  1651,  the  ( idvcnioi',  wlio  seems  to  have  ex- 
ercised supreme  power  iiL  ccck'sia^tical,  as  well  as  civil  and 
military  affairs,  ordered  a  house  for  public  wur-liip  to  be 
erected  at  Flatbush,  60  feet  in  length,  38  in  ln-cadth,  and  11 
feet  in  height  beloAv  the  beams. 

February  9,  1655,  the  Governor  ordered  the  people  of 
Brooklyn  and  Amersfort,  to  assist  the  peo])le  of  Midwout, 
or  Flatbush,  in  cutting  timber  tu  build  the  liouse. 

In  September,  1660,  those  w  ho  had  the  charge  of  the 
building,  stated  that  it  had  cost  1637  guilders,  of  Avhich  sum 
.■'.1;;7  had  been  collected  in  jSTew  Amsterdam,  Fort  Orange, 
and  on  Long-Island.  The  Governor  added  100  more,  and 
there  remained  800  to  be  raised  to  discharge  the  debt. 

The  next  house  for  public  worship  Avas  commenced  at 
Flatlands  in  1663,  and  one  at  Brooklyn  in  1666. 

October  13, 1656,  the  Eev.  Joannes  Theodorus  Polhemus, 
Avas  by  the  Dutch  Governor  permitted  to  preach  at  Mid- 
Avout  and  Amersfort. 

In  March,  1656,  to  accomodate  the  four  villages.  Graves- 
end,  Amersfort,  Midwout.  ami  BiMohlyu,  tlie  Hutch  Gov- 
ernor ordered  Mr.  Polhcnms  to  preach  every  Sunday  morn- 
ing at  ]Mi(lwi)ut,  and  in  the  afternoon  alternately,  at  Amers- 
fort and  Brooklyn. 

In  IGCti",  the  Rev.  Henricus  Selwyn  was  installed  at 
Brooklyn,  by  order  of  the  Dutch  Governor,  at  a  salary  of 
600  guilders  a  year,  one  half  to  be  paid  by  Brooklyn,  and 
the  other  half  by  Fatherland  or  Holland.  Mr.  Sehvyn  re- 
sided in  NeAV  Amsterdam,  and  in  1662,  the  people  of  Brook- 


30 


h  ii  ])etiti<)iic(l  the  Govenioi-,  that  lie  sliould  he  vequirod  to 
reside  aiiuiiiij;  tliein.  To  lii^-hten  tlieir  hunk'iis,  tlie  (ioveriiur 
H<>-reed  to  i)ay  250  <i;uiUlere  of  his  salary,  on  condition  that 
lie  shonld  j)reach  at  Jiowery  every  Sunday  evening. 

It  is  said  that  Mr.  Selwyn  went  to  Holland,  in  lt;()4  ;  if 
that  was  the  case,  lu^  must  hav(>  ri'turned  to  New-Yoi'k  sunie 
time  aftcrwanh,  as  lie  was  a  iHiiii>lcr  tiicre  from  l»iS2  to 
1700. 

The  regular  record  of  haptisms  in  the  Dutch  towns,  com- 
menced in  U)00. 

From  a  ni;iiiiisci'iiit  of  the  I{c\  .  i'ctci'  how.  deceased,  it 
a|ipears  that  the  >iiccccilin:;' iiiiiii-tcis  in  tlic  hutch  churches 
on  Long  Island  r-cltU'd  licforc  iNOO,  were  ms  follows: 

Settled.        Died  or  removed. 
Joannes  Aregajxilensis,  1G08 
Casperus  Van  Zuren,  1G77 

Mr.  Clark,  Mm 

AVilliam  Ln])ardus,  17l»0 
iicrnard  Freeman.  1702  1741 

A'icentius  Antoiiides,  1715  1741 

Joannes  Arondi  us  1742 
Anthony  Cortenius,  1730  1756 

ripiiinus  Van  Sindci'en,  1747  179() 
.lolin  Cnspcr  Kiil.cl.  17(!0  1797 

Martiniiis  Schooiimaker,  17S5  1S24 
Peter  Lowe,  1787        died        is  IS 

Since  ISOO,  the  ministers  who  ha\e  settled  in  the  Dutch 
churches  have  l.)ccn  cMiifiiii^il  to  the  particwlni-  c m^i'cgntion 
in  whicli  they  wcit  m-1  t  Nd.  The  mini-tn--  ~ctl  Ird  -iucc  that 
time,  are  as  follows  : 

Settled.      Died.  Deniored. 
r,rooklvn.  S.  lah  S.  AVoodhull,   1805  1825 
rtrccht.  .ImIiii  Heattie,  1809 
Bushwick.  .Inlni  Eassett,  1811  1824 

Flathu.-h,  Walter  Montieth,  1819  1820 
do.,  Thomas  M.  Strong,  1822 
A  Dutch  church  was  erected  in  damaica  in  1715,  in  New- 
town slutrtly  after,  in  Nuith  llemp>tea(l  iiiid  Oysterhay, 
1732,  or  thereabouts.  4'lie-e  cliuiche-  >eem  to  have  been 
snp[died  by  the  ministers  cif  i\  iiig>  ci  >unty  till  1750.  From 
that  period  they  were  united  umlei- theii' own  ministers,  who 
preached  in  connnon  among  1  hem  until  isicj,  ^ill(•e  which 
lime  Jamaica  and  IS'ewtown  have  formed  (me  coiniexioii. 


31 


and  Nortli  Hempstead  and  Oysterbay  another.  These  min' 
istei's  were  : 

Thomas  Eomevn,  1750  \ 

Bollan,  1770  / 

Freleifjli,  1774  ^  For  the  four  churches. 

Van  Ness,  1784  V 

Zacliaria  Coojier,  1784  ) 

.lufl  Scli(iiiiimaker,  1802  Jam,aica  and  JVewtown. 

Mr.  (  (luptT,  tVdui  1802,  to  1812  iV.  Hempstead Oxjsterbay. 

David  i'.()--ert,  1812  do. 

Most  of  the  early  Dutch  ministers  that  were  settled  on  the 
Island,  w^ere  born  and  educated  in  Plolland,  and  some  of 
them  were  distinguished  for  their  talents  and  learning. 

Mr.  Selwyn,  who  was  the  first  minister  of  Brooklyn,  and 
who  was  afterwards  settled  in  New- York,  prefixed  a  latin 
poem  to  Cotton  Mather's  "  Magnalia  Christi  Americana," 
bearing  date,  October  16,  1697,  and  signed  Ilenericns  Sel- 
wyn, "  Ecclesiie  Eboracensis  Minister  Belgicus." 

Mr.  Freeman  left  a  volume  of  sermons  which  are  in  the 
hands  of  his  descendants,  but  as  they  are  in  the  Dutch  lan- 
guage their  merit  is  not  generally  known. 

If  there  are  any  productions  of  the  other  Dutch  ministers 
on  Long-Island,  they  are  probably  in  the  Dutch  language, 
and  no  longer  read. 

Of  the  English  Towns. 

The  original  settlers  of  the  several  towns  in  Siifi:blk  county, 
and  the  greater  niimber  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  English 
towns  in  the  Dutch  territory,  w^ere  nnited  in  their  religious 
opinions.  They  were  uniform  in  their  adlierance  to  the  doc- 
trines contained  in  the  confession  of  faith,  agreed  on  by  the 
assembly  of  divines,  who  met  at  Westminster,  in  1642. 
They  also  accorded  with  each  other  on  the  subject  of  church 
govei-ninent.  The  constitution  of  the  churches  in  the  seve- 
i-ul  towns  was  ovigiiiany  congregational,  and  so  continued  im- 
til  1747,  tlic  greater  luuulier  were  prevailed  onto  ex- 

change the  congi'egati(tnal  form  for  that  of  the  Presbyterian, 
wdiicli  they  were  taught  to  believe  to  be  better  adapted  to 
support  purity  of  doctrine,  and  an  efficient  discipline.* 

In  most  of  the  towns  in  Sutfolk  county  and  in  Hempstead, 

*  The  experience  of  Europe  since  the  Reformation,  proves  that  that  constitution  of  Church 
government  which  enibraces  different  churclies.  professing  the  same  doctrines,  under  the  same 
superintending  jurisdiction,  has  contributed  much  more  to  preserve  purity  and  unity  of  don- 
trine,  than  that  which  left  every  congregation  to  adopt  its  own  creed,  and  to  prescribe  its  own 
discipline. 

14 


32 


a  minister  aocomjianied  tlie  first  settlers,  and  a  church  was 
organized  amonii'  tlieni,  either  before  or  soon  after  the  com- 
nienconient  of  their  respective  settlements. 

In  most,  if  not  in  every  town,  a  dwelling  house  was  erect- 
ed and  land  set  apart  as  a  parsonage  for  the  use  of  the  min- 
istry. The  minister  of  oacli  town  was  allowed  tlie  use  of 
the  parsonage,  with  the  addition  ol'a  >alai-y  payahlc  in  pro- 
duce or  money.  It  is  prohaMe  that  tlicaniount  oi'tlic  >alary 
was  regulated  by  the  value  of  the  iiai'soiiai;c.  In  Iti.Mt  the 
salary  of  the  minister  of  East  lIani|iTon  \va-  i'C.da  year.  In 
1663  the  salary  of  the  mini-ter  n|'  .lamaica  \\a-  I'tii).  In 
16S0,  that  of  the  ministei' of  S.iutli  llani|irnii  wa^  tlnd.and 
in  16S2,  that  of  the  mini^tel•  of  Ilen4l^tea(l  \va<  I'dD  14. 

A  house  for  public  M-orslnp  was  erected  in  South  Hamp- 
ton, and  probably  in  South  Old,  previous  to  tlie  year  1645, 
and  these  were  the  first  houses  that  were  erected  for  public 
worslii])  on  the  Island. 

A  house  for  public  worship  was  erected  in  Hempstead 
probably  before  1650,  in  East  Hampton  in  1651,  in  Jamaica 
in  1662,  and  in  Huntington  in  1665. 

The  first  liousi's  that  wei'e  eiveted  for  public  worship  in 
the  >t'\  ('ral  to\\  ii>  w  i^re  not  hii'-c  Tlie  ditlieiilty  of  in'oeur- 
ing  inatcriaU  liiiiited  them  in  the  eonstruetiou  of  the  build- 
ings tM  the  .liCMiiiiii.Hlation  of  the  respective  societies,  at  the 

time  1  hry  were  d'crteih 

The  hnu-e  errctcil  in  Janialea  in  1662,  was  36  feet  in 
length.  L't'i  in  liivadth.  and  ITfri't  hi-h.  The  second  house 
erectetl  in  ilemp-tcail  in  |tl77.  wa-  4o  feet  in  length,  26  in 
breadth,  and  12  feet  hi-  h.    The  one  erected  in  Brookhaven 

in  1671,  WSS  28  feet  >. piai-e. 

At  this  early  perio(h  the  houses  <.f  ]nd>lie  worshiji  Avere 
without  the  aeeommodaiion  of  bell-,  and  in  >e\ei'al  ot'  the 
towns,  if  nut  in  aU.  the  people  emphiNcd  a  pei'-'Hi  to  beat  a 
drum  to  ap]n-i/,f  them  ot'  the  tinio  of  pnlillc  wor-hi]). 

In  1662,  the  town  of  .lamal.'a  io  -ise  a  person  30s. 

a  yeai-  for  heat  in-'  a  drmn  on  thr  SaMiath  ila\  .  and  similar 
contract-  were  made  in  oihci'  town-,  and  the  practice  prob- 
ably continued  till  l»ells  wei'e  procured. 


33 


Thf  fiilloiring  is  as 


■t  <i  j;.f  of  ih, 


iir,t  r 


,1,1  hr 


inqrrqn- 
r.'jn  'fin 


s 

here 
cated. 

■hen 
uated. 

oved. 

Remarks. 

a 

n 

M 

« 

SOUTH  OLD. 



John  Youngs, 

England, 

1640 

aged  74 
aged  89 

Josliiia  Hobart, 

Harvard, 

1650 

1674 

1717 

Benjamin  Woolsey, 

Yale, 

1709 

1720 

1736 

or  thereabouts. 

James  Davenport, 

do 

1T32 

1738 

1746 

William  Tliroop, 

do. 

1U3 

1748 

laged  36 

Jolin  J<torrs, 

do. 

1766 

1763 

1787 

Josepli  Hazard, 

1797 

1806 

Jon:iili:tn  Hunting. 

do. 

1S04 

1807 

England, 

1640 

removed  to  Branford,  and  m  IbGi 

,,„,,' 

England, 

1(548 

1674 

[to  Newark, 

Harvard, 

166!)  16S" 

aged  31. 

do. 

16S-2 

17-'3 

aged  S2. 

do. 

17-J2 

1727 

1782 

aged  79. 

Yale, 

17S(> 

1784 

1790 

Rhode  Island, 

1788 

1791 

1795 

Columbia, 

1790 

1796 

1812 

Juhti  Jialtitit, 

1813 

1818 

Peter  11.  Slunv, 

1820 

Kast  Hampton. 

riirihi:i<  .Taiiirs,^ 

England, 

1C50 

1696 

Harvard, 

1C93 

1699 

1753 

in  his  78th  year. 

' ;  " 

Yale, 

1741 

1746 

1798 

aged  82 

do. 

1797 

1799 

1810 

El"        ■  1  ..|is, 

1811 

'["  '-'  '  '  ''"'^Si 

England, 

1058 

1670 

removed  to  Newtown, 

1677 

1731 

or  thereabouts,  aged  90 

Yale, 

1718 

1723 

1779 

aged  79. 

Nassau, 

170.S 

1766 

1773 

a  colleague  of  Mr.  Prime. 

Yale, 

1775 

17S5 

17S9 

removed  to  Newtown. 

Nassau, 

1767 

1794 
1817 

1817 

removed  to  Oliio. 

"' 

Yale, 

1817 

1824 

1823 

Ni!    ,    '    I.I  .'H-ster, 

Harvard, 

1642 

1665 

'690 

Harvard, 

1GS6 

1697 

1739 

Yale, 

1741 

1745  17.52 

or  thereabouts. 

cenjaiimi  ialmaage, 

do. 

1147 

1754 

1780 

Noali  Whetmore, 

do. 

1757 

17S6 

1798 

Zachariah  Greene, 

1797 

Ahncr  Reeve, 

Yale, 

1731 

Napthali  Dagget, 

do. 

174S 

1751 

1756 

Afterwards  President  of  Yale  Col- 

ThiMiias Lewis, 

do. 

1741 

1768 

1769 

lege,  died  17S0. 

Jo>liiia  Hart, 

Nassau, 

17T0 

1773 

1792  removed  to  Fresh  Pond. 

Luther  (ileason. 

1797 

1806 

Heurv  Fuller, 

Middlebury, 

1816 

1821 

Rieluu  d  Nicoll, 

1823 

Hempstead. 

Richard  Denton, 

England, 

1644  1663 

JerL-miah  Hobart, 

Ifi.'Si) 

16S2 

1696  or  thereabouts  ;  hesettledat  Had- 

Jo.-hua  Hart, 

Nassau, 

ITTI 

lil'i 

1773 

[dam  in  1700  and  died  in  171", 

Samuel  Kobinsnn, 

1817 

[aged  87. 

Charles  Weljiter, ' 

Union, 

181:3  1818 

William  Leverid'ge, 

England, 

107n 

1690 

John  Morse, 

169T 

Samuel  Pomeroy, 

Nassau, 

1705' 1709 

1744 

SimoD  Horton, 

do. 

1731 

1746 

1786 

 Bay, 

1787 

1789 

Nathan  Woodlmll, 

Yale, 

1775  nou 

1810 

34 


William  lloardman, 
John  Goldsmith, 
Jamaica. 
Zachariali  Walker, 
John  I'ruddeu, 


 (il:is,-liio,.k, 

George  Fatoute, 
Henry  U.  Weed, 
Seymour  I'.  Funk, 

liUIDCK  IIamptos. 
Ebenezer  White, 
James  Brown, 
Aaron  Woolwortli, 
Amzi  Francis,* 


England, 
Nassau, 
Union, 


1C63 
1008  1070 
1094 
1095  1098 


removed  to   Stratford,   then  to 
1008  [Woodbury. 
lOIiM  removed  to  Newark. 
ir,H7 
17ii2i 
|l7-iO) 

1 1730  removed  to  Philadelphia. 


17t)'J  ITT.'s 

1776  17S1I  1815 
1812  1810 
1S23 


rtinoved  to  Norwalk. 


1748  resigned  ;  died  1756,  aged  84. 
1775 

in  the  58th  year  of  his  age. 


A  hrh  f  arrniiiif  of  flu'  Jirxf  /// hi /'.'^/f'/'s,  uikI  of  .^oiiii'  of  thdr 

I  IK  lin  il'nif,  Klirr,  sxni-K  hi  flit'  si  I'i'rdI  KlKjlhli  foir/iNon  LoiKJ 
1x1,111,1,  ,lx  f,lr  ,lx  fin  h'  hixforij  roilhl  },<   tlx,;  rfilhli  il. 

The  liev.  .luhii  Vouii-s  tlic  first  iiiiiiistcr  uf  Soutli 
Old.  He  lind  Ki'i'ii  a  iMiiii>tci-  at  1 1  inu'liain.  in  >Nnrt(ilk  in 
Enf>:laud,  buforc  lir  ciinL'i'atiMl  to  tl:i-  ci unit ry. 

He  earae  to  ^'cu -1  !a\ .mi  u  ith  i.art  mI'  lii-  ('liiii-cli.  in  Klld, 
and  there  re-ori:aiii/i'i|  hi-  <-liuicli  and  with  tliciii  and  .-iicli 
as  chose  to  ai-i-iini|iany  1  licni.  in  <  )cl  ■  il  ht  ]  ia--cd  on  it  to  I.on<x- 
Island,  and  (-ohiiucik-imI  a  -ct  l  Icmont  on  a  t  rad  ot'  land  w  liich 
had  been  piux-hasfd  of  tlit^  n.itivi's  under  the  authority  uf 
Xew-IIaven. 

Tliey  called  the  town  Sonthohl.  They  ado]»ted  the  laws 
and  became  a  brancli  of  tlie  jni-i-dictioii  of  Ncw  lla\cn. 

AVilliani  Wen>.  lianiaha^  'i  bMlon.  Tlionia-  Mapo^.  .bi],n 
TuthiU,  and  ^Iatliia~  ( 'oru  in.  were  the  Icadini:'  nim  w  ho 
tbnned  tlie  first  >ettkMnoiit  at  South  ()l(h  and  their  ].o>terity 
in  that  and  the  adjoiniiii;'  town>  are  nniiieroii>  and  re>iieet- 
able. 

This  town  found  it<liflieult  to  enforce  the  rule  of  the  juris- 
diction, wliich  excluded  all  but  eliiirch  nieinbcis  fidiii  the 
privilege  of  freemen,  and  their  dciiartiirr  fidin  it  cn  ated 

*  The  time  of  settlement  and  removal  r)fHii>  above  mini-l.  i >  i:.  ^'.•ni  i  all,\  lakoi  Irmn  records, 
and  in  cases  where  they  ci.uM  li.  lii  orm  i  d,  m-  ili.l  nui  luruish  the  liilormatiun,  resort  has 
been  had  to  the  best  somr.  ~  Ml  ini.n  m  ii  h.n  1  ii:,t  .  muM  iir  ailorded,  to  supply  the  defect ;  and 
in  a  few  instances  the  tiim,'  i-  r..i,j.  .jinr.  .1  ir.nn  i  ii\  uiii^t.iucLS. 


35 


some  difficulty  between  that  town  and  ^^ew-IIaven,  wliicli 
was  removed  by  the  submission  of  botli  towns  to  the  juris- 
diction of  Connecticut  in  16P)5. 

Mr.  Youiiii's  (•(.iitinued  the  minister  of  South  Old  till  liis 
death.    He  died  in  l()7i',  a-ed  74. 

.  Mr.  YoiniLi'-  li:ul  >c\  rr:il  r~uns  ami  dauii'hters,  to  whom  he 
left  coii^idoraMc  pr.)i)cil  \  .  a.  iunn[)er  of  whose  posterity  still 
reside  in  South  (  )ld. 

Several  of  Mr.  Youngs'  descendants  have  occupied  public 
stations,  and  have  been  distinguished  for  public  useful- 
ness. 

Colonel  John  Youngs,  his  ehh'>t  son,  was  a  leading  man 
in  the  public  affairs  of  the  town  during  his  life  time. 

He  was  generally  appointed  the  delegate  to  consult  with 
the  delegates  of  Southampton  and  Eastiiampton  respecting 
the  difficulties  to  which  those  three  towns  were  exposed,  botti 
l)efoi-e  and  after  the  conquest  of  the  Dutch  territories  by  the 

It  is  supposed  that  he  wn-  a])iioiiited  one  of  the  judges  of 
the  court  which  was  e.~tal)li>hc(l  by  the  authority  of  Con- 
necticut for  those  towns,  innnediately  after  that  colony  had 
received  the  charter  of  1662. 

In  167:3,  when  the  three  towns  were  again  taken  under 
the  juri>diction  of  that  colony,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  court  which  was  then  established  for  the  ad- 
ministration of  justice  in  those  towns. 

In  1»!SL  he  was  high  sheriti"  of  Yorkshire,  then  composed 
of  all  Loug-Tsland,  and  by  request  of  the  court  of  assize, 
the  highc-t  judicial  tribunal  in  tiie  colony,  drew  the  petition 
for  the  priv  ilege  of  hav  ing  an  assembly,  which  they  sent  to 
the  Duke  of  York,  and  w  hich  was  granted  in  l<>s;;.  lie  was 
maih' a  ineinber  of  tlie  c(Uiiicil  ot'  the  colony  in  ids:',,  which 
station  he  seems  to  have  retained  as  long  as  hecoidd  attend. 
He  was  also  colonel  of  the  n)ilitia  of  Suffiilk  county  till 
1693,  when  in  consequence  of  his  age  the  office  was  given 
to  Colonel  William  Smith,    lie  died  in  1698,  aged  75. 

Benjamin  Y  oungs,  another  >on  of  Mr.  Youngs,  and  Joshua 
Youngs,  who  is  su[i])os<,m1  to  have  l)een  his  grandsou,  were 
successivelv  judges  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  of  Sutfolk 
county,  a  serie>  of  yi'ars  befort'  the  >\nu'rican  Revolution, 
and  Thomas  Youngs.  >uppo.-ed  to  1  ic  another  of  the  de>cend- 
ants  of  the  Rev.  .lohn  "\'oungs,  was  a  judge  ot'  the  >;nue 
court  f(U- some  time  since  the  revolution.  The  iiev.  l)a\id 
Youngs,  supposed  to  be  another  of  his  descendants,  graduated 


36 


at  Yale  Collefre  in  1741,  became  a  minister,  settled  at  Brook- 
haven  in  174."),  and  continued  tlicre  till  his  death  in  1752. 

Experience  Youngs,  the  daunhter  of  lU'Djaniin  Younirs, 
and  grajid  daughter  of  the  liev.  .John  "^'oungs,  was  the  se- 
cond wife  of  the  Tvev.  Ebenezer  Prime,  the  minister  of  Hunt- 
ington from  l71!>to  1779,  and  was  graiidiiintlicr  of  thelvev. 
Kathaniid  Scudder  Prime,  who  i>  ;it  |irr-riii  the  |irincipal 
of  the  academy  at  Candjridge,  in  \Va>liingtoii  county,  in  the 
State  of  New- York. 

The  Rev.  Ezra  Youngs,  as  is  supposed,  another  of  Mr. 
Youngs'  descendants,  luis  recently  entered  into  the  ministry, 
and  preaclie-  (Ui  Sheher  l>land. 

The  Kev.  .lo>]ina  1 1  ol , art  succeeded  Mr.  Youngs  iii  1074. 
He  was  a  son  of  the  \lr\ .  I'ctei-  lloliart.  wlio  wa-  educated 
at  Cambridge,  and  ]ireaclic(|  at  lla\ci'liill  and  nther  jilaces 
in  England  till  l<;;'..^.  wlieii  lie  with  lii>  cliildrcii.  caiiie  ever 
to  Ma--acliu-etf~.  and  >ettled  the  town  of  llingliaiii.  where 
he  gatliered  a  church,  and  coutiuued  a  '•faithful  pa>tor  and 
an  able  preacher,"  until  his  death  in  1679.  He  had  four 
sons,  who  became  preachers. 

Joshua  was  bom  in  graduate(l  at  Harvard  College 

in  1650.  He  settle(l  at  South  Old  in  1<m4,  and  continued 
there  dnring  his  life  time,     lie  died  in  1717.  ageil  s'.t. 

The  church  and  congregat  ion  of  South  (  )ld.  attei-  the  death 
of  Mr.  Yomigs,  sent  a  ine>-eiiger  to  P>o.-ton  to  >eek  "an 
honest  and  goodly  minister,""  and  in  iirocuriug  Mr.  Hobart, 
their  wishes  seem  to  have  been  reah/ed.  and  they  had  the 
happiness  to  enjoy  his  labors  dui'ing  a  long  life. 

Some  of  the  posterity  of  Mr.  HoKart,  in  the  female  line, 
recently  resided  in  the  town  of  South  <  )ld,  and  \wre  re- 
spectable, but  it  is  not  known  that  he  has  any  descendants 
now  living. 

The  Kev.  Abraham  Pierson  was  the  first  minister  of  South 
Hampton.  He  liad  been  a  unin>ter  in  "I'ork-hii'e.  In  l''.ug- 
land,  and  came  over  to  Boston  in  Iti:!'.'.  ami  joined  the  church 
there. 

Some  of  the  English  emigrants  who  had  made  a  stand  at 
J^ynn,  in  ]\rassachu<otts.  having  agree(l  to  f  ii-m  a  settlement 
on  Long-l>laiid.  <>\\  a  tract  <>\'  land  w  liich  they  had  iiurchased 
of  the  nati\(-.  with  the  cdii-ent  ot'  .lame-  l-'ari-et.  agent  of 
the  Earl  of  Stii-ling.  the\  a-i-eed  w  ith  Mr.  rier-"n  t-i  accom- 
pany them  as  their  mini-ter.  He  iii-u'ani/.cil  a  church  ainoiig 
them,  and  they  entei-e(|  into  a  civil  coiidiinatioii  or  covi'uant 
for  the  su})port  of  order  and  good  government,  before  they 


37 


removed  to  the  island.  In  December,  1640,  they  removed 
to  the  ishind  and  commenced  the  settlement  of  the  town  of 
South  Hampton. 

The  Indian  deed  was  executed  to  John  Gosmer,  Edward 
Howell,  Edmund  Earrington,  George  AV^ells,  Edmund  Xeed- 
hani,  Thomas  Sayrc,  Joh  Sayre,  Edmund  Ilalsej,  Thomas 
Ilalsey,  Henry  Walton,  l)aiiiL'l  Howe,  John  Cooper,  Allen 
Bread,  and  William  Ilan-hcr.  and  these,  or  most  of  them,  are 
suppdM'd  to  luive  conuncnccd  the  tiist  settlement  of  South 
Hamilton,  and  their  posterity,  form  no  inconsiderable  propor- 
tion of  the  present  inhabitants  of  that  town. 

Shortly  after  the  settlement  of  the  town,  they  found  it  ne- 
cessar}'  for  their  security  to  t'oi'm  a  connection  with  some  one 
of  the  J^ew-Eiigland  coloiiie>.  and  it  seems  they  were  divided 
in  opinion  relative  to  the  one  they  should  join. 

New-Haven  iv>ti-icted  all  publil'  ofKces  a>  well  as  the  right 
of  suffrage  to  ineniliei>  of  the  cliurcli,  while  in  Coniiecticut 
they  were  connnoii  to  all  the  iidiabitants  within  her  jurisdic- 
tion ;  and  it  seem-  that  Mr.  J-'ierson,  with  a  jiart  of  the 
church,  wished  to  join  New-Haven.  The  majority,  how- 
e\ci'.  in'eferred  an  union  with  ( 'onnecticut,  and  in  1(144  joined 
that  cMldiiy.  In  consi'i|uen(H>  of  M-hich  it  is  supposed  that 
Mr.  l*ier-on  and  a  portion  of  the  people  removed  to  Bran- 
ford,  where  they  coinnienced  a  new  settlement,  and  put 
themselves  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Xew-Ilaven. 

After  his  settlement  at  Branford,  IMr.  Piei-son  was  em- 
ployed by  the  commissioners  of  the  society  foi-  propagating 
the  gospel  in  Xew-England,  which  was  established  in  1049 
to  instruct  the  Imliaiis  in  those  jiarts. 

From  the  ai-counts  of  the  couiniissiouers  in  Hazard's  col- 
lections, it  appears  that  Mr.  I'iei'sdn  was  employed  in  the 
service  more  oi'  less  of  his  time  from  It'i.'i;!  to  KKm. 

In  1<!.j7,  with  the  assistance  < if  Thomas  Stanton,  an  Indian 
interpreter,  he  translated  into  the  language  of  the  Indians, 
a  catechism  which  he  had  comjxjsed  for  their  use. 

In  1659  he  atteiuled  a  meeting  at  Koxlniry,  in  ^rassachu- 
setts,  for  the  purpose  of  witnessing  the  success  of  Mr.  El- 
liot's labors  among  the  Indians,  and  assisted  in  examining 
the  Indian  couv^erts  in  their  own  language. 

In  1665,  Xew-TIaven  rclincpiished  her  independence,  and 
became  a  memli(U'  of  the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut,  under 
the  charter  granted  by  the  king  in  1662.  It  seems  that  Mr. 
Pierson  and  many  others  were  opposed  to  this  measure,  and 
probably  for  the  same  reason  that  he  left  South  Hampton  he 


38 


(lettM'iiiiiUMl  with  ^ucli  as  were  of  tlie  same  opinion,  to  leave 
that  i)art  of  tlie  eouiitrv. 

In  May,  Eoliert  Treat,  of  IVIilfnnl,  ami  Samuel 

Swain  of  Branford,  on  hehalf  of  themselves  and  a  number 
of  the  peo])le  of  Milford,  ])ranf()rd,  New-IIaven,  and  (iuil- 
ford,  made  a  ] >iirclia>c  of  the  native  ])ro])rietors  of  a  tract  of 
land  on  tlic  i':i~~:iif  ii\cr,  in  New-rlersev,  in  oi-di'r  to  forma 
new  settlement  tliciT. 

It  is  su])posed  that  some  ]>art  ol"  the  >ettl('rs  removed  to 
the  new  settlement  immediatelv  aftei'  the  iiurchase. 

October  3(ltli,  HWU;,  the  scttl'crs  adopted  the  law  of  New- 
llaven,  which  inhibited  any  |iei'>on  IVoui  bei-oinini;-  a  free- 
man who  was  not  a  mendiei- of  >onie  coiii^i'ei^ntioiial  church. 

Till'  most  of  Mr.  l*ier>oii's  cliui-cli  ;iiid  ci in;^i-eL;:it imi  I'c- 
mo\ed  fi'om  ]>i-antoi-(l,  aiul  the  settiei>  from  the  otiiei'  towns 
united  with  them,  under  liis  ministry.  'J'lu'y  calhMl  the 
towji  New  Ark,  a>  I>  >iiiii)osed  after  the  town  where  Mr. 
Pierson  was  ordained  in  Miiuland. 

From  the  fact  of  Mr.  Pier-ouV  i-eceivlni:-  an  allowance 
from  the  commissioners  at  their  meetinu'.  Septendx'i'  l.'Ith. 
1607.  for  his  services  dui'Iiii;-  the  year  iii-ece(lini;-.  it  is  su])- 
posed  that  he  did  not  renH)ve  to  Newark,  until  after  that 
meeting  in  the  fall  of  that  year. 

September  10th,  1668,  the  people  of  Xewai-k.  at  a  town 
meeting,  voted  to  allow  Mr.  PiiMvou  the  i'\jieii>e>  of  his  re- 
moval and  diggiuir  !n's  well,  and  al>o  ^.■^o  i\,y  lii>  services 
from  the  tir>t  of  (  )ctober,  UitiT.  to  the  tii'^t  of  October,  lt;68, 
and  >tipulateil  to  allow  him  a  salary  of  t>o  a  year,  jiayable 
lialf-yeai-ly.  in  produce  at  the  curinMit  pi'ice.  fi'om  the  lirstof 
October.  i()<;s;  and  also  to  give  him  a  ]>ound  of  butter  for 
evei'y  mih-h  cow  in  the  town,  and  al>o  \oted  that  he  -hould 
be  exeiiipicl  tVom  taxes,  while  he  coutiuue(|  their  niiiii-tei'. 

It  ap]/ear>  that  Mr.  Pierson  wa>  at  this  time  advanced  in 
years,  and  stood  in  need  of  an  as>i>tant. 

July  28th,  1669,  the  town  employed  his  son,  Abraliam 
Piersim,  jun.,  who  gi'aduated  at  Harvard  in  1668,  to  assist 
his  father  in  the  mini~ti-y.  March  4th,  1672,  he  was  regu- 
larly settled  as  a  colleague  Avith  him. 

It  is  su])posed  that  Mr.  Pier>oii  ^l  adnally  (h'clined,  so  as 
not  to  be  ca]iable  of  much  sei  \  ire  atb  r  thi>  period,  and  that 
he  die(l  in  16Sn      "s],  at  an  adxaiiced  age. 

He  i-  repre-eiiird  l.\  (  'i.ticii  Mather,  as  ''an  able  and  ier- 
vent  jireachei-,  and  a>  a  piou>  and  [UMident  man,"  and  the 
Rev.  Alexander  McWorter,  one  of  his  successors,  in  a  een- 


39 


tiiry  sermon,  preached  Jainiarv  ]>t,  ISOl,  repve>ents  liim  to 
have  been  "  a  man  of  learuiiiLf  and  i>i('ty,  of  natural  aliili- 
ties  al)ove  the  common  level,  and  eiiiiiiuiit  for  liib  wisdom, 
prudence  and  discretion." 

His  son  ri'iiiained  at  I^ewark  until  the  summer  of  1692, 
when  he  removed  to  Connecticut,  and  in  1694,  settled  at 
Killings  worth. 

In  1701,  he  was  chosen  rector  or  president  of  the  new  col- 
lege, which  station  he  occupied  till  his  death  in  1708. 

The  Rev.  John  Pierson,  a  son  of  the  President,  settled  at 
Woodbridge,  New-Jersey,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  a  number 
of  families  of  that  name  in  that  ]iart  of  tlic  country. 

The  Pev.  Ashbel  Green  of  Philadeliihia,  late  president  of 
the  college  at  Princeton,  is  said  to  be  a  grandson  of  Mr. 
Pierson,  of  "Woodbridge. 

It  is  su]  i]iosed  that  the  original  ancestor  left  other  posterity, 
whose  descendants  reside  in  New-Jersey,  New-York  and 
Connecticut,  who  are  generally  respectable. 

The  Rev.  Robert  Fordham  succeeded  Mr.  Pierson  in  the 
ministry  at  South  Hampton.  He  visited  tlie  town  in  1648, 
and  acce|>ted  an  invitation  to  become  their  minister,  but  his 
salai'v  (lid  not  commence,  nor  is  it  probable  that  he  began 
his  stated  labors  there  until  the  1st  of  April,  1619. 

Mr.  Fordhain  came  from  England  ;  and  it  is  related  by 
Johnson,  in  his  "  wonder-working  providence,"  that  he  first 
went  to  the  west  part  of  tlie  Island,  and  it  seems  he  accom- 
panied Mr.  ])enton  to  Hempstead.  His  name  is  the  lirst  in- 
serted in  the  patent  granted  by  the  Dutch  Governor,  De- 
cember 16th,  1614,  for  that  town.  He  was  a  resident  and 
proprietor  there,  when  he  received  the  invitation  of  the 
people  of  South  Hampton  to  become  their  minister.  Mr. 
Fordham  continued  the  minister  of  South  Hampton  till  his 
death  in  1674. 

From  the  inventory  of  his  pi-opci-ty  on  rocor<l.  it  a])pears, 
that  he  possessed  a  large  estate  for  tliat  period,  amounting 
to  £2,000  and  upwards,  exclusive  of  his  debts ;  and  the 
value  of  his  library,  which  was  appraised  at  £53  7s.  6d.,  in- 
dicates that  he  was  a  man  of  learning  as  well  as  |)iety.  The 
Rev.  Josiah  Fordham,  supposed  to  have  been  a  grandson  of 
Mr.  Fordham,  preached  a  short  time  at  Brookhaven  after 
the  decease  of  Mr.  Brewster.  His  posterity  still  reside  in 
South  Hampton,  and  are  respectable. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Taylor  succeeded  Mr.  Fordham,  in 
March  1680,  and  died  in  April  1682.  The  invitation  to  liim 
16 


40 


with  a  sintjfle  excejitinn.  \\-a>  niiaiiiinoii^,  which  is  a  decisive 
proof  thathe  must  lia\c  Imch  in  -n  at  c-iceiii  with  thepeo])le 
of  that  town.  lie  caiin'  tlici-c  iVoiii  .\cw-IIavou;  but  little 
is  kTiown  of  his  history. 

Tlic  Rev.  ,Ios('i>h  Wiiitiuj;  was  invited  to  South  Ilainpton, 
ill  .June  1()S2,  and  pi-ohalily  ai-ci-ptcd  the  invitation  and  set- 
tled there  a  short  time  attciw  ai  ils.  Mr.  Whitinji-  was  the 
youngest  sou  of  the  Kc\ .  Samuel  Whiting,  who  was  a  dis- 
tinguished preac  her  in  Norfolk  in  England,  came  over  to 
Boston  in  1(J3(!.  ami  t  led  at  Lvnn,  where  he  continued 
till  his  death  in  IfiT'.t.  lie  had  thi-(H'son>  who  were  miins- 
ters.  ]\Ir.  Joseph  Whitin--  ihr  yoiin-i-t.  li-raduatod  at  Har- 
vard in  Kifil.  lie  St  udicd  t  hiMiln- \  with  jii.-  father,  and  for 
nuiny  years  assi-ted  liim  in  the  mini-try.  Mr.  Whiting  con- 
tinued the  mini>terof  Sonthami.ton  till  his  death,  in  April, 
1728,  in  the  s-_',l  year  of  hi.-  a^e. 

Mr.  Whitinu'  w  a-  a  clo-e  >t  ndeid,  and  devoted  himself 
wholly  to  the  (Intie-  of  hi->aereil  t'linetioii.  Cotton  ^Mather, 
in  his  Magnalia,  u  ritten  in  l<l',i7,  in  hi^  aecount  of  the  family, 
says,  "Joseph  i-al  thi>  ilav  a  worthy  and  paint'nl  minister 
of  thog.ispel  at  S,,nth  1 1  ai'n  [  .t  on .  oii '  Loi  i-  1  >hi  nd 

There  i>  a.  tradition  anion-'  .-ome  of  the  (dderly  peo|)le  of 
Sont]iam|itoii.  that  he  so  ali>traeted  him^elf  from  the  care  of 
all  teiniMiral  eoneerns,  that  he  was  ignor;mt  of  the  lunnher 
or  nature  of  his  own  stock.  Mr.  Whiting  h'ft  a  son,  the 
liev.  John  \\' hiring,  wlio  irradnated  at  Ifai'vard  in  17<'",>et- 
tled  at  C'oiieord  in  ITli'.and  died  in  1  T-'.-j!,  agei I  71.  His 
posterity  reside  in  ( 'oneoi-d.  It  is  not  known  that  Mr.  Whit- 
ing has  any  postei  il  \  on  l,oii^-l>laud. 

The  Rev.  Richard  1 )(  ■ntoii  was  thetirst  nunister  of  Hemp- 
stead. He  had  heen  a  mini^ler  ill  I  lah'f  i\,  in  Kiigh.ud.  He 
came  over  to  Warreiitowii  hetweeii  Iti.'lOand  '■'<■>.  In  lH."!."), 
he,  with  some  who  had  joine(|  the  ehiiivh  there,  umha-  the 
charge  of  the  Rev.  (ieoi-^c  I'hilHiis.  and  others,  emigrated 
to  Coiiiieetient  and  (-omnuaieed  tlie  M'ttlemeiit  of  Wethers- 
tield.  Mr.  Denton,  with  some  pai-t  of  tlie  ]ieo|ile  of  Weth- 
er sfield,  in  1641,remo\ed  to  Stamford,  and  in  1  fi44,  he,  with 
part  of  his  church  and  eongrei^at  ion,  removed  to  IIem]i>tea.d 
on  Long-Island,  and  >etthM|  on  a  tract  of  laml  wliich  they 
had  purchased  of  the  liulians.  and  for  which  they  received 
a  patent  from  the  Dutch,  w  ho  e\erci-ed  juri-did  i.  .u  over 
that  part  of  the  Island.  Matthia-  M  itdiil.'Thoma-  Ka\  ner, 
Andrew  AVard,  Robert  Coe.  and  Richard  ( iilder>leve.  were 
some  of  the  leading  men  who  accompanied  Mr.  Denton.  Mr. 


41 


Denton  continne<l  tlip  iiiiiiistci-  ,,f  ir('iii]i^t(';i(1  till  his  death, 
iu  1663.  Pie  is  it| ii\'si'iitc(l  liy  ('ntiMn  Mntlicr  as  an  able 
preacher  and  an  exi-fllfut  man."  lie  >tatcs  tliat  Mr.  Den- 
ton left  a  manuscript  system  of  divinity,  entitled  "  Solilo- 
qiiia  Sacra,"  wliich  was  well  spoken  of  by  tlm.-e  who  liad 
seen  it.  Mr.  Denton's  posterity  are  numerons  and  respect- 
able. 

TheEev.  Jeremiah  ITolnirt  settled  at  TTeniitstead  in  16S2.  '^ 
ITe  was  the  sou  of  tlie  Ke\.  i'eter  llobart,  of  llin-liam, 
Massachusetts,  and  brother. .f  Mr.  .b.^Ima  Il.ibart.  of  S., nth 
Old.  lie  was  born  in  Knulaiid  in  1  *!•">< >,  and  eamc  over  a 
child  in  1635.  He  u-i-aduate.l  at  Ilarvai-d  in  lt;.">ii.  He  first 
preached  at  Topstiehl  in  .Ma"ai-liu>ett>.  He  removed  to 
Hempstead  in  l(;.s2,  where  lie  eontinned  till  l<i:tt;,  there- 
abouts, when  he  removed  to  lladdam,  in  ( 'onneeticnf,  w  here 
he  was  installed  in  17<h»,  and  preadied  till  his  (k>atli.  He 
went  to])ublie  worship  in  the  forenoon,  and  died  in  hisehair 
l)etweiMi  meetings,  in  1717,  a.^'ed  ^7  years.  He  was  the 
l^raiidfither  of  the  celebrated  missionary,  the  Rev.  David 
l!i-ainard. 

The  liev.  Thomas  James  was  the  first  minister  of  East 
Hampton.  His  ancesti'y  i>  not  known.  It  is  conjectured, 
however,  that  he  was  a  ^on  ot'the  Rev.  Thomas  James,  who 
}>reached  at  ( 'harle.~to\\  ii ,  in  .Ma>-aehnsett-,  in  It'i.'i;!,  who 
went  to  ^'ir^■inia  as  a.  mi^^i.lnal■y  in  \*'A'2,  and  who,  as  is  >np- 
|)Osed,  afterwards  returned  to  MiiM-land.  It  is  the  tradition 
that  he  came  from  England  beloi-e  he  had  finished  his  studies, 
and  that  he  completeil  his  edncation  with  some  of  the  niin- 
i-tei's  wh(_>  at  that  time  adorneil  the  chui-ehes  of  XewJ-hig- 
land.  Ea^t  Hampton  was  pnrcliased  of  the  mitive  proprie- 
tors in  1618,  and  a  settlement  was  shortly  after  formed 
there.  John  Hand.dohn  Strt'tton,  Thomas  Taluuioe,  jun., 
Robert  Bond,  Robei't  Ko^e,  Thomas  Thomp^.>n,^  Jo'shua 
l!anie.-,  dohn  Mulford  and  Daniel  Howe,  rommeiieeil  the 
tir?-t  settlement  at  Ivi-t  Hampton.  It  i>  not  known  when 
Mr.  James  first  eami.'  tliei-e.  In  l»i.">l,  it  a[ipears  from  the 
town  records  that  the  inhalntaiit>  ot'  that  town  agreed  to 
give  him  £50  a  year,  f  u'  lii>  labors  in  the  mini>ti'y  anmng 
them.  Itisnot  probable  that  he  had  been  long  there,  per- 
haps not  longer  than  was  necessary  to  form  an  acqnaintancc 
with  each  other.    It  seems  probable  that  the  church  was  not 

*  It  is  probable  that  the  people  of  ITempsteail  employed  a  minister  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Denton,  before  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Hobiiit,  but  no  records  have  been  found  that  throw  quy 
light  on  the  subject. 


42 


regularly  orginiizcd,  nor  was  Mr.  Jainert  settled  in  East 
Hampton  iiiilil  1  <;:,(»  Kinl. 

Ill  1055,  the  inlialiitants  entered  into  a  civil  c(ind)iiiation 
or  social  contract  for  the  siii)|iort  ol"  good  government  among 
themselves. 

Mr.  James  seems  to  have  been  the  tirst  person  employed 
to  instruct  the  Indians  on  the  Island. 

In  the  accounts  of  the  society  for  proi)agating  the  gospel 
in  New-England,  for  16()1,  there  is  an  allnw  niicc  of  £10  to 
Mr.  James  of  East  IIam])ton,  for  prejMiriiig  hiiiix'lf  for  that 
dithcnlt  eni])l(iynH'nt  ;  and  in  the  account-  tor  tlu-  succeed- 
ing thi'cc  ycai'>.  thiTc  i>;ni  allow  iuicc  of  t'-jo  a  \  rar  tor  each 
of  those  years  to  Mr.  -laiiio  for  >ahii'y  for  iiisti-ucting 
"the  Indians  at  Loiig-l>huid." 

Mr.  Beeeher,  in  liis  sermon  of  1S()6,  states  "that  Mr. 
"  Janu's  \\  ;i>  niii|iir-tioiialily  a  man  of  strong  natural  pow- 
"ersjiad  ;i  l;.hm|  i I iica t ioii,  iiiidcr>too(l  pul il ic  1  lusiness,  and 
"  was  ri'pcatciIlN  ciiiploycd  Ky  tlu'  town  as  a  tiaistee,  and  to 
"act  for  tlicni  with  tlicir  <'oiiiniittt'c>  on  ditHcult  cniergen- 
"cies."  It  may  l»e  a(ldc(l  that  the  rccoi'(l>  of  the  town' fur- 
nish ample  evidence  of  uncommon  tirmness  and  decision  of 
character. 

Mr.  James  seems  to  have  been  very  zealous  for  the  pre- 
servation of  civil  liberty,  and  the  pi-otestant  religion,  M'hich 
he  saw  endangered  by  the  ai-bitiary  measures  and  bigoted 
principles  of  James  II.  and  his  catholic  governoi-s,  and  ]irob- 
ably  freely  and  boldly  ex])res>('d  his  ap]ii-cli('ii>ioii-  in  tlie 
pulpit.  In  the  colony  record>,  in  the  minutes  ot'  the  coun- 
cil for  Novembef  18th,  1680,  it  i-  stated  that  on  tlie  I'ecep- 
tion  of  two  depositions  charging  the  Rev.  Thomas  James 
of  East  Hampton,  with  having  ])reaclied  a  certain  seditious 
sermon  on  the  17th  of  October  ])rece(liug,  an  oivlei'  was 
passed  by  Governor  Dongan  and  the  council,  for  a  warrant 
to  be  issued  to  a  messenger  to  have  Mr.  Jaiues  before  the 
council  that  day  fortnight  to  answer  the  ])remises.  The  re- 
sult cannot  be  a-certained  from  the  records,  and  i>  not  hnown. 

Tlieic  i~  \rvy  littU'  known  of  Mr.  Jauie>">  ministerial 
cliaractei-.  luit  >utHcient  indicatitnis  of  it  remain  in  the  re- 
cords of  the  town  to  evince  that  he  was  a  faithful  preacher 
and  a  pi'udeut  man. 

Mr.  dam.-  cMiitiiMied  at  Ka^t  Hampton  tiil  lii-  death  in 
1696.  The  I  pi,-  rni|i|MV,  <l  a  Mr.  done-  to  ;i"i-t  l.ini  dur- 
ing the  la>t  thi-ee  year>o|'hi>  lift',  in  conse(]Uence  of  lii>age 
and  infirmities,  he  having  relincpiished  £40  of  his  salary  to 


43 


enable  tliem  to  do  it.  Mr.  James  ordered  his  body  to  be 
laid  in  a  position  contrary  to  that  of  his  people,  and'  he  was 
buried  in  that  manner. 

iSTovemln'i-  I'otli.  KiitS,  Mr.  James  sold  and  conveyed  his 
real  estate  to  .lolm  (iardiner,  of  (Tardiiier's  Island,  for  i'.')*"!!, 
one  half  which  was  paid  inime<liatcly,  and  ^Iv.  (iai'diiier 
obligated  himself  to  pay  tlie  otlicr  lialf  to  the  ^^^■.v/^///^•  of 
Mr.  James  within  one  montli  next  after  liis  dcccax'.  From 
his  selling  his  estate,  and  especially  fi'oni  tlic  oini^-ion  of  any 
terms  of  relationship  in  the  description  of  the  }>crsoii-  to 
whom  Mr.  Gardiner  was  to  pay  the  residue  of  the  purchase 
money,  it  is  inferred  that  Mr.  James  did  not  leave  any  pos- 
terity. 

The  Rev.  Nathaniel  Hunting  succeeded  Mr.  James  in  the 
ministry  at  East  Hampton.  Mr.  HuntingV  grandfather  eame 
trom  England  to  Massachusetts,  jirol^ably  in  hV-W.  lie  was 
ordained  the  ruling  elder  in  the  church  at  Deilham  ;  at  the 
same  time  Mr.  Allen  was  ordained  the  pastoi-  of  that  church. 

Elder  Hunting  had  a  brother  and  brother-indaw  in  King- 
land,  who  were  niini>tei's.  ami  be  was  cousin  to  the  fmiuus 
minister  John  IJogcj-s,  of  l)e(lham,  in  Phigland.  Mr.  Hunt- 
ing graduated  at  Harvard  in  li'.'.t:!.  He  came  to  East  Hamp- 
ton in  IHIm;,  and  was  ordained  the  minister  of  that  town  in 
September,  l&.KK  and  continued  the  sole  mini>ter  of  that 
place  till  1740,  when  the  Rev.  Samuel  Buell  was  called  to 
assist  him,  on  accomit  of  his  age  and  infirmities.  Mr.  Hun- 
ting died  in  1753. 

The  character  of  Mr.  Hunting  is  thus  drawn  l)y  the  TJev. 
Lyman  l>eecher,  one  of  his  successors  in  the  miiu^try  at  East 
Hampton,  in  a  sermon  preached  at  East  Hampton  in  iSdO. 

•"Mr.  Hunting  was  a  man  of  stiMng  and  di>tinguishing 
mind  ;  firm  and  independent,  without  rashness  ami  ol)stinacy; 
he  was  a  hard  student,  an<l  accurate  xholai',  and  of  exten- 
sive theological  learning.  IHs  sermons,  of  which  more  than 
100  volumes  are  now  extant  in  manu>cri]it.  are  \\  ritten  in  a 
close  and  nervous  style.  They  are  the  re^ult  of  careful  -tudy ; 
are  written  with  great  particularity  and  critical  accuracy, 
abound  with  scripture  references,  and  reference.- to  the  most 
approved  authors  and  conunentator-.  They  inculcate  abun- 
dantly the  depravity  of  human  nature — the  nece»ity  of  re- 
generation— the  ao'eney  of  God,  and  his  sovereignty  in  this 
work — the  insufficiency  of  works  to  justify,  and  that  we  are 
justified  by  faith  only." 

It  is  not  known  that  Mr.  Hunting  ever  published  anv  of 
17 


44 


liis  sermons,  nor  is  it  known  tliat  he  wrote  on  any  other  sub- 
ject. J I  is  niaiuiscrijits  are  in  tlie  hands  of  some  of  his  de- 
scendants. 

Mr.  lluntiiiii;  liad  five  sons  and  one  daiigliter.  Two  of  las 
sons  became  farmers  ;  one  of  them  settled  in  East  Hampton, 
and  the  other  at  South  irain])ti>n.  Tlircc  oftliciii  received 
a  liberal  education.  Nat lianirl  and  .lunatliaii  studied  di- 
vinity and  became  preaclici',-,  Imt  Initli  wci'c  uhliy-ed  to  de- 
sist from  preaching  on  account  of  thcii-  health.  Jonathan 
died  at  East  Hampton  in  17.")n.  in  the  t  liirty->i.\th  year  of  his 
age.  Xatlianiel  also  di('(l  at  I^a^t  llam[)ton  in  1770  aged  GS 
years.  Edward  was  a  ]iliysii  ian.  and  died  at  East  Hampton 
in  17-i5,  in  the42d  yeai-  of  liis  age. 

Mr.  Hnntiiig''s  daughter  nuirried  a  Mr.  Coit  of  New-Lou- 
don. 

The  several  families  of  TFuntings  iu  East  Ilaniptun  and 
South  Hampton,  and  the  Jlw.  .lonatliaii  1 1  iint iiii:-.  tlic  pre- 
sent minister  of  South  Old,  are  (k'seeudaiits  of  Mr.  Hunt- 
ing. 

The  Eev.  William  Leveridge  is  supposed  to  have  been  the 
first  minister  of  1  Iuiitin:j:ton.  llecaiiie  tVoiii  Kiiglaiid  with 
captain  AViggiu  and  coiiipanv,  in  ]<''•'!•">.  w  ith  a  \icw  to  set- 
tle at  PiM|natai|na,  l)Ut  not  lia\  ing  >ii iHcient  encouragement 
to  remain  rhere,  came  to  l!o>ton  and  joined  the  church  there, 
Augu-t  '."til.  If,:;:,.     j-'roni  tlieiice  he  renu)ved  to  Plymouth. 

.ludge  Davis  in  a  note  to  lii~  edition  of  Morton's  history 
of  Plymouth,  state-  that  it  appeal'-  tVoin  the  Plymouth  re- 
cords, that  Mr.  Les'eridge  a>si^ted  Mr.  Parti'idge.  the  nunis- 
ter  of  Duxbury,  a  short  space  before  he  i-eino\cd  to  Sand- 
wich, and  that  he  was  teacher  of  the  chuich  of  Sandwich  a 
considei'ahle  time. 

]\Ir.  I'.ii  triilu'e  arrived  at  Boston  in  1030.  It  is  probable 
that  he  settled  at  Duxbury  the  next  year,  where  Mi'.  Lever- 
idge assisted  him,  and  that  he  settled  at  Samhv  I<  li  in  l';.'!S. 

Wentworth,  in  his  Journal,  mentions  Mr.  Le\ei  idge  as 
the  minister  of  Sandwich  in  1639. 

Aforton,  in  his  liistory  of  Plymouth,  states  that  in  1642, 
the  colony  was  adorned  with  a  number  of  able  and  godly 
miinsters,  and  enumerates  Mr.  Leveridge  among  the  num- 
ber. 

TluM-e  were  a  considei-able  iiuniher  of  Indian-  in  or  near 
Sandwich,  where  Mr.  he\  ei-idge  \\  a-  -et  t  leil.  :in<l  thi-  led 
him  to  make  some  exertions  to  (pialify  hini>elf  fur  their  in- 
struction. 


45 


Mr.  Elliott,  of  Roxbury,  tbe  celebrated  Indian  preacher, 
who  translated  the  Bible  into  their  language,  in  a  letter  of 
September  3d,  1651,  to  the  commissioners  of  the  society  for 
propagating  the  gospel  in  New  England,  informed  them 
that  Mr.  Leveridge  and  Mr.  Blinman  were  fitting  themselves 
for  the  work  of  the  gospel  among  the  Indians,  of  which 
they  inform  the  society  in  their  letter  of  the  10th  of  that 
month. 

It  seems  that  Mr.  Leveridge  did  not  continue  at  Sandwich 
a  long  time  after  this  period. 

In  April,  1653,  he  visited  Long-Island,  and  with  certain 
others  from  that  part  of  the  country  where  he  was  settled, 
made  a  purchase  of  the  natives  of  a  large  tract  of  land  at 
Oysterbay,  with  the  design  of  forming  a  new  settlement  or 
plantation  there. 

The  deed  for  the  land  bears  date  April,  1G53,  and  was  exe- 
cuted to  William  Leveridge,  Samuel  Mayo  and  Peter 
Wright;  the  deed  for  Huntington  was  obtained  the  same 
month,  and  was  given  to  Richard  Holdbrook,  Robert  Wil- 
liams, and  Daniel  Whitehead,  who,  with  Peter  Holdbrook, 
Anthony  Wright,  Charles  Armitage,  William  Washborne, 
Daniel  Washborne,  and  John  Washborne,  seem  to  liave  com- 
posed the  same  company  that  made  both  purchases,  and 
probably  came  from  the  same  part  of  the  country. 

Shortly  after  the  purchase,  Mr.  Leveridge  removed  from 
Sandwich  in  order  to  commence  the  settlement  of  the  new 
plantation  at  Oysterbay. 

The  vessel  ^vluch  conveyed  him  and  his  goods  went  to 
Hempstead  Harbour  Avithin  the  Dutch  jurisdiction,  and  land- 
ed the  cattle  and  the  goods  there,  "  because  there  was  no 
house  erected  at  Oysterbay,  in  which  the  goods  could  be  re- 
ceived."* 

It  would  seem  that  after  his  removal  to  Oysterbay,  Mr. 
Leveridge  devoted  more  or  less  of  his  time,  either  on  Long- 
Island  or  elsewhere,  to  the  instruction  of  the  natives.  It  is 
probable  that  the  English  settlements  in  the  neighborhood, 
in  their  infancy,  were  unable  to  support  a  settled  minister, 
and  that  he  divided  his  labours  between  them  and  the  native 
tribes. 

*  During  the  year  1653,  war  prevaUed  between  the  English  and  Dutch  in  Europe,  and  Rhode 
Island  took  part  with  the  mother  country.  The  vessel  which  carrie  i  Mr.  Leveridge  belonged 
to  Capt.  Thomas  Willett,  Samuel  Mayo,  William  Paddy  and  John  Barnes,  of  Barnstable,  and 
was  taken  while  within  the  Dutch  limits,  by  Thomas  Baxter,  who  was  cruising  against  the  Dutch 
commerce,  under  a  commission  from  the  authority  of  Rhode-Island,  and  the  commissioners  of 
the  united  colonies  were  obliged  to  interlere  to  procure  the  restoration  of  the  vessel. — Hazard's 
Collections. 


46 


From  the  accounts  of  the  cominissioTiers  presentefl  to  tlie 
society  for  j)niji:ijiatiii>;  tlie  ir()8})el  in  New  Enji'laiid,  it  ap- 
]^>ears  that  thev  allowed  ^Ir.  Leveridge,  from  time  to  time, 
trom  l()o;^  to  165S,  several  small  sums  for  his  service  anujng 
the  Indians. 

In  1057,  the  conmiissioners  wrote  to  him  to  ciiiin^c  him 
to  mulertake  the  iii>tructioii  of  the  C'oi'cliaii::'  iiml  JMuntauk 
trihes  at  the  east  end  of  the  Island,  if  hi-  .-ituatiou  woidd 
admit  of  his  being  emidoyed  in  tli;it  >ci  \  ice. 

It  seems  his  settlement  at  1 1  unt iniiT. in  ahniit  this  jieriod, 
prevented  Ills  accepting  the  iii\ itatimi  of  the  (•(Uiniii^inncrs. 

In  1658  he  seems  to  liave  hern  (■>tahli>lic(l  ;i>  tlic  minister 
of  Huntington.  During  that  vear.  the  [ie(>|)lc  ot'tiiat  town 
appropriated  land  for  his  use,  and  in  lt'>G2  enlarged  the 
cpiantity. 

In  lf)58,  Mr.  Leveridge  also  had  a  grist  mill  erected  on  a 
stream  that  ran  through  the  town,  which  was  the  first  mill 
erected  in  the  town. 

Mr.  Leveridge  continued  the  minister  of  Ilimtington  until 
1670,  when  he  removed  to  Newtown,  and  is  supposed  to 
have  hccn  tlir  hist  niiiii^tcr  of  that  town. 

He  rciiiaiiir,!  ;it  NcuImw  n  till  ]ii>  death,  the  datr  of  which 
is  not  preei>el_v  known,  hut  appeal's  froni  the  I't'cords  of  the 
town  to  have  been  previous  to  1694.  It  is  probable  that  it 
was  not  long  before  that  year,  and  that  he  died  at  an  ad- 
vanced age. 

In  one  of  the  books  among  the  town  records  of  Xewton, 
there  is  a  commentary  on  a  considerable  ]iurtioii  uf  the  <  )ld 
Testament,  which  is  presunuMl  to  lia\f  ln'cn  made  l)y  Mr. 
Leveridge.  If  so,  it  is  no  incon>idcralih'  | n'. ,t' < 'f  hi-  h'arn- 
ing  and  industry.  He  is  characterized  hy  lluhhard.  in  his 
history  of  Xew  England,  as  "an  able  and  worthy  minister." 

The  circumstance  of  his  having  lieeii  die  df  the  original 
proprietors  of  (  )y-terbay,  and  of  iia\ iiig  erecteil  a  ui'l-t  mill 
in  the  infancy  of  tlietown  ot  liiintingtun,  would  >eeni  tn  indi- 
cate that  Mr.  Leveridge  must  have  })ossessed  a  cousiderahle 
estate. 

Some  of  Mr.  Leveridge's  posterity  still  reside  in  Xewtowu, 
and  rank  among  the  most  respectable  people  of  the  town. 

The  Kev.  Eliphalet  Jones  succeeded  Mr.  Leveridge  in  the 
ministry  at  Huntington.  He  wa-  a  -mi  i.f  the  Rev.  .luhn 
Jones,  who  arrived  at  Boston  in  Itl;',,"..  ,iii<l  -rttird  at  Concord 
in  connection  with  the  Rev.  Peter  iiulkley,  in  IdoT.  ^Ir. 
Jones  did  not  continue  many  years  at  Concord.    It  seems 


47 


that  ail  unusual  number  of  people  settled  at  Concord.  Tlie 
Eev.  Ezra  Tviplev,  the  minister  of  that  town,  in  ;i  di>cour-e 
delivered  Januarv  2-i:th,  lTlt-2.  states  tliat  a  (•oii>i(lfi'ahk'  pro- 
portion of  the  cliurcliand  peoph- tindiiii:- tliL-  placr  too  scanty 
for  the  comf  )rtal>le  snl»sistrnce  of  sonmiiy.  a  tew  years  nftfi- 
the  first  settleniriit  of  the  town,  xild  their  i m — idie^.  we  :*" 
Avit]^]VIr.  Jones  to  ('oiineeticiit.  and  >ett  led  tlie  tMWii  (,f  l-'ai,-- 
field.  From  a  petitii.m  of  tlie  iiiliahitant>  of  ( 'oiieoi-d,  dated 
in  1645,  on  file  in  the  otfice  of  the  Secretary  of  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts, it  appears  that  the  emigration  took  phiee  in  the 
summer  or  fall  of  16-^,  and  consisted  only  of  a  seventh  or 
eiii'hth  part  of  the  inhabitants,  a  much  less  proportion  than 
Mr.  Ivipley  supposed. 

Mr.  Jones  wa^  tlie  first  minister  of  l"'aiifiehl,  and  fi  intinued 
thei'e  till  his  death,  the  pre(•i^e  date  of  wliicli  i~  not  known. 

Mr.  Wakeman,  tlie  next  minister,  settled  in  ](;(;:,;  kv.t 
might  liave  >ettled  as  an  assistant.  It  i>  prokalil.-  tliat  Mr. 
Jones  die(l  jirevions  to  1668.  In  that  year  land-  were  laid 
out  in  Faii'field,  to  a  Mrs.  Jones  who  is -nppo-i  d  t..  have 
been  tlie  widow  of  the  nninster.  In  1(17."-.  Kliplialei  .lones, 
his  Son.  conveyed  a  home  lot  of  two  acre-,  in  Fairfield,  to 
his  nephew,  dohn  IJuikley,  which  wa>  iirokahly  his  fatheFs  ; 
and  in  Kl'Jl,  he  conveyed  t<i  hiiiL  two  other  tracts  of  land, 
in  the  same  town,  which  are  stated  in  the  riM-Mi'd  to  hav-' 
been  left  him  by  his     hoiiorecl  hither,  .lolm  -lone-." 

From  a  record  <A'  liirth>  in  Concord,  found  in  the  conrt 
recor(ls  in  I'oston,  it  ajtpears  that  the  Kev.  Flipliah/t  .lones, 
was  l)orn  the  '.ttli  of  the  11th  month.  ICln.  It  i-  not  kn<.wn 
where  he  received  ]ii>  education.  It  is  ni_)t  improliakle  tlint 
he  was  educated  ly  the  Kev.  Feter  Fulkleyand  hi>  -on  who 
succeeded  him — the  first,  if  not  both  of  whom,  -war-  a  dis- 
tinguished scholar,  and  with  Avhich  fannly  he  >eem>  to  ha-^  e 
Ijeen  in  some  Avay  connected. 

In  1669,  Mr.  Jones  was  stationed  at  (Greenwich,  eitlier  as 
a  missionary  or  settled  nnnister.  During  that  year  tlie  [leo- 
ple  of  Jamaica  voteil  to  send  a  messenger  to  (-freenw  ich  to 
give  him  an  invitation  to  visit  that  town  in  order  to  Jii-  set- 
tlement as  their  minister. 

In  May,  1724,  Mr.  Jones  conveyed  fifteen  aero  of  land 
in  Greenwich,  to  Eliphalet  Hill,  which  he  conveyed  to  Jo- 
seph Marshall,  of  that  place,  the  same  month.  This  land  is 
supposed  to  have  been  allotted  to  him  as  one  of  the  pr(_iprie- 
tors  of  the  town,  or  to  have  been  granted  to  him  as  a  settle- 
ment, or  as  a  remuneration  for  his  services  while  he  preach- 
ed there.  18 


48 


Tu  April,  1673,  the  people  of  Iluiitinirtoii  authorized  their 
ina<jist rates,  with  certain  others  nanu'd  for  that  purpose,  to 
use  their  endeavors  to  procure  a  minister  for  the  town. 
It  seems  that  they  invited  Mr.  Jones  to  come  among  them, 


January  of  that  year,  the  people  of  ]Iuiitiiii;ton  i;ave  him 
an  invitation  to  cc/ntinue  among  them  as  llu  li-  iiiiiii>tcr.  and 
at  the  same  time  voted  to  give  him  twenty  -miw^  of  land 
Avliere  he  chose  to  take  it  up. 

Mr.  Jones  seems  to  have  been  very  reluctant  in  assenting 
to  a  settlement,  until  lie  was  assured  of  tlic  t:-ciicral  appro- 
bation of  the  peoiiK\  It  •ri'iii-.  that  he  coii t i ii iic<  1  witli  tliem 
another  year  without  clo-iuM-  with  their  lu'opoal. 

In  June,  1677,  the  <piestion  was  ai:aiii  put  to  the  people 
at  his  request,  wdiether  they  still  (k'>ired  lii>  cout  iuuaiiee 
with  them  as  their  minister,  and  was  answered  in  the  affir- 
mative by  all  but  one  who  were  present. 

Mr.  Jones  then  settled  among  them,  and  continued  the 
sole  minister  of  the  town  until  .lime  L'Ut,  ITl'.'.  when,  on 
accoimtof  his  age  and  infirmit  ier-.  I'^heiiezer  i'riiiie  ^\•as  em- 
ployed to  assist  him,  and  continued  in  that  capacity  imtil 
June  5th,  1723,  when  he  was  ordained  as  a  colleague  with 
him. 

Mr.  Jones  gave  the  cliarge  to  Mr.  Prime  at  his  ordination, 
with  which  he  was  so  much  pleased  that  he  entered  it  on  the 
church  records;  and  this,  with  the  skeleton  or  outline  of  a 
singh'  -ennoii.  t'oiiinl  among  the  town  records,  and  siipposed 
to  be  his,  ai'e  the  only  productions  of  Mr.  Jones  that  have 
been  discovered. 

At  the  time  of  Mr.  Prime's  settlement,  the  church  con- 
sisted of  forty-three  members. 

It  is  not  probable  that  Mr.  Jones  was  capable  of  mucli 
service  long  after  Mr.  l*rinie's  settlement,  although  he  lived 
a  number  of  years  after  tliat  period. 

It  appears  from  a  receipt  of  a  store-keeper  with  wliom  he 
traded,  that  lie  w  a-  living  in  April  1731,  when  he  nuust  have 
been  upwanU  nf  ninetv. 

The  tradition  of  tlie  family,  whose  ancestor  lived  witli 
him,  is  that  he  liv^ed  till  he  was  nearly  an  lunidred  year-  old. 

Mr.  Jones  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  great  purity  and 
simplicity  of  maiiueiv.  and  a  faithful  and  >iirr(.~>lii I  |.i-.  ac]H"r. 

It  is  pretty  well  a-c.Tt aiued,  that  Mr.  d-iie-  did  not  leave 
any  posterity,  and  that  he  gave  his  estate  to  I'diphak't  Hill, 
who  is  supposed  to  have  been  his  kinsman,  whom  he  had 


and  that 


town  some  time  before  1676.  In 


49 


brou<i::lit  up,  and  who  managed  his  business  and  took  care  of 
him  in  his  okl  age. 

The  Rev.  Natlianiel  Brewster  was  the  first  minister  of 
Brookhaven.  His  ancestry  seems  to  be  involved  in  some 
obscurity.  He  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  son  of  Jonathan 
Brewster,  and  grandson  of  the  distinguished  ehler  William 
Brewster,  of  Plymouth.  It  is  sn])}i(»se(l  that  Jonathan  Brew- 
ster conducted  or  accompanied  tiie  settlers  who  commenced 
the  settlement  at  Windsor,  on  Connecticut  river,  under  the 
authority  of  Plymouth  colony,  in  1633,  and  that  he  contin- 
ued to  reside  there  some  years,  perhaps  till  1643,  when  it  is 
supposed  that  he  formed  a  settlement  at  M(Jiegan,  now  Nor- 
wich, lie  died  in  1659.  The  Ilev.  Nathaniel  Brewster  is 
supposed  to  have  been  the  same  person  who  graduated  by 
that  name  in  the  1st  class  of  Harvard  College,  in  161:2. 

About  that  time,  the  laws  enforcing  uniformity  were  re- 
pealed, and  others  adopted  which  subjected  the  episcopal 
clergy  to  impositions  inicompatible  with  the  rules  of  that 
church ;  in  consequence  of  which  great  numbers  relinquish- 
ed their  charges  and  the  vacancies  were  supplied  by  presby- 
terian  and  independent  ministers. 

Some  of  those  who  had  come  to  this  country  to  escape 
ecclesiastical  oppression,  and  to  secure  the  enjoyment  of  re- 
ligious freedom,  returned  to  England  and  resumed  tlie  ex- 
ercise of  their  ministerial  functions;  and  others  who  had 
been  educated  in  this  country  went  over  to  England,  during 
the  suspension  of  episcopal  authority,  and  settled  in  some 
part  of  that  country. 

Hutchinson,  in  his  hist(n-y  of  Massachusetts,  states  that 
most  of  those  who  graduated  in  the  first  class  at  Harvard 
College,  went  to  England,  and  that  Nathaniel  Brewster  was 
among  the  number,  and  that  he  was  a  settled  minister  at 
Norfolk,  and  of  good  report." 

He  received,  while  in  England,  the  degree  of  Bachelor  in 
Divinity,  at  tlie  college  at  Dublin,  while  it  was  in  the  hands 
of  the  dissenters. 

In  1662,  after  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  episcopacy 
was  restored,  and  the  laws  of  uniformity  re-enacted  ;  in  con- 
sequence of  which,  the  })res](yteri;iii  and  iiKkqieiident  min- 
isters were  in  their  turn  obliged  to  leave  their  churclics. 

It  is  supposed  that  Mr.  Brewster  was  among  the  number, 
and  that  he  shortly  after  returned  to  tliis  country,  and  t^et- 
tled  at  Brookhaven  in  the  fall  of  1665.  At  a  town  meeting 
held  October  21:th,  1665,  the  town  voted  to  purchase  the 


.50 


]ioii>e  iiiid  lioiiie  lot  of  !^^ilttlle^\•  Prior,  for  tlie  accommoda- 
tion (if  Mr.  lirewsiter  the  minister.  Ifc  contimied  the  miii- 
i>ter  of  I'.n.okhuveu  till  liis  death,  in  1()90. 

It  i>  a  ti-adition  of  the  family  that  Mr.  Brewster  married 
Sai'ali  Ludlow,  a  daughter  of  lioger  Ludlow,  who  was  one 
of  the  most  eminent  men  in  New-England.  He  was  aiiiem- 
l)er  of  the  conneil,  and  deputy  governor  of  Ma--ai  liii-i  tts 
while  he  remained  in  that  eolony.  life  removed  tu  \\  ii;(l>(n' 
in  163.) — to  Fairfield  in  1640,  and  to  Yirginia  in  1654.  He 
^\•as  a  member  of  the  council  and  deputy  governor,  while 
he  remained  in  Connecticut.  He  also  principally  contri- 
huted  to  the  formation  of  the  original  constitulinu  df 
and  to  the  original  laws  of  that  colony.  In  l<'>4'.t.  In-  was 
employed  by  the  assembly  to  reduce  their  vari()U>  arr>  a 
cude  or  system,  which  they  adopted.  Mrs.  liicw-tn'.  his 
daughtei-,  is  said  to  have  been  eminently  di>tiiigiii-h(  d  fur 
her  talents  and  accjuirements,  and  is  sup|Hi--cil  to  Ii;i\c  had 
the  chief  or  sole  management  of  the  coiicoiii-  ot'tlic  family. 
Mr.  Brewster  left  three  sons,  John,  Tiuiotliy  and  I  )ani(  l,  to 
whom  he  left  considerable  property,  fioui  whom  the  liicw- 
sters  on  Long-Island,  in  Oi'ange  ( 'oiinty,  and  in  New  -Icr- 
sey  are  descended.  His  son  l)aniel  \\a-  a  inaL:i~t  rate  in 
Brotikhaven  for  many  yciirs,  and  his  de^(•(■lldaut^  generally 
sustain  a  respectable  rank  in  >ocictv. 

The  Kev.  George riiilllp-  MKcee.ied  Mr.  Brewster  in  1697, 
and  for  some  time  preache(l  a  ]>ai't  of  the  time  at  Smith 
Town.  Mr.  Phillii)s  was  the  son  of  the  Uw.  Saninel  Phil- 
lips, of  Itowle_y,  in  Massachusetts,  and  a  gi'ainl-on  of  tlie 
liev.  George  Phillips,  who  preached  at  i!o\furi|.  in  1^-ex, 
in  England,  before  he  came  to  this  country,  and  canic  o\er 
with  (Tovernor  Winthrop  to  liostoii,  in  MoO.  and  -cTtlcdat 
AVatertown,  where  he  continne(l  ciniiuaith-  n>efnl  to  tlie 
time  of  hi>  death,  in  16-1-1-.  The  fathei'  of  \\v.  Phillip>.  the 
lieverend  Samuel  Phillips,  of  K'ow  1.  y.  died  in  IC.m;.  aged 
71 ;  he  left  anumber  of  childron.  among  w  hom  were  Samnel, 
John,  and  (rriirge.  (  )ne  of  the  t  wo  tir-t  I>  >aid  t,,  liaxc  hrcn 
a  gohUmit  h,  and  ^eltled  at  Salem.  11  i>  >on  Samurl  \va-  the 
iirst  nuni^terof  Amluver;  he  di(Ml  in  1771,  in  the  M^l  year 
of  his  age.  Ilis  grandson  Sam  ml  \\a~  the  founder  of  the  An- 
dover  academy  ;  he  died  in  1  7'.'".  aiicd  76.  His  gramlsun, 
John  Phillips,  was  the  foundn-  of  the  Lxeter  academy  in 
New-Hampshire;  he  died  in  17'.i:>.  aged  7i' :  and  hi- gi'i-at 
grandson,  Samuel,  was  the  late  lieutenant  go\  i'rnor  of  .Mas- 
sachusetts ;  he  died  in  1802,  aged  50. — Of  which  branch  of 


51 


this  family  of  the  PhilH^s',  Doctor  Miller  in  his  review  ob- 
serves, that  few  families  in  this  country  have  been  more  dis- 
tinguished for  liberal  donations  to  religious  and  literary  in- 
stitutiuiis  tliiin  tliey. 

Thu  llijv.  (ic'orge  Phillips  was  born  in  166-t — graduated 
at  Harvard  college,  1686.  He  preached  at  Jamaica  a  few 
years  before  he  settled  at  Brookhaven.  He  settled  in  tliat 
town  in  1697,  and  continued  the  minister  there  until  his 
death,  in  1739,  aged  75. 

Mr.  Phillips  was  distinguished  for  a  peculiar  vein  of  na- 
tural wit.  His  ordinary  discourse  was  tinctured  with  this 
peculiarity  ;  and  tradition  has  preserved  many  of  his  speeches 
that  exemplity  it. 

Mr.  Phillips  seems  to  have  been  a  faithful  preacher.  He 
not  only  served  his  own  church  and  congregation,  but 
preached  lectures  in  destitute  congregations.  He  left  three 
sons  and  three  daughters.  His  descendants  are  numerous. 
The  Rev.  Ebenezer  Phillips,  of  Easthampton,  "William  Phil- 
lips, Esq.,  of  Brookhaven,  and  George  S.  Phillips,  Esq.,  of 
Smithtown,  are  his  only  male  descendants  on  Long  Island. 
The  Phillips  family  in  Orange  county,  and  some  of  the  name 
in  Xew  Jersey  and  Connecticut,  are  his  descendants. 

The  Rev.  Zachariah  Walker  was  the  first  minister  of  Ja- 
maica. Mr.  AValker  probably  came  from  England  before 
he  was  ordained ;  and  it  is  supposed  preached  at  Jamaica 
as  a  licentiate.  He  came  to  Jamaica  in  1663,  aud  is  ^up- 
posed  to  have  removed  to  Stratford  in  1668,  where  he  was 
ordained.  It  is  also  supposed  that  he  removed  from  Strat- 
ford to  Woodbury  in  1670. 

The  Rev.  John  Prudden  succeeded  Mr.  Walker,  at  Jamai- 
ca. Mr.  Prudden  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  son  of  the 
Rev.  Peter  Prudden,  who  came  to  New-Haven  in  company 
with  the  celebrated  minister  John  Davenport,  and  settled  at 
Milford,  in  1669. 

Mr.  Prudden  graduated  at  Harvard  college  in  1668.  He 
settled  at  Jamaica  in  1670,  and  continued  there  until  1692, 
Avhen  he  left  that  place  and  removed  to  Newark,  in  New- 
Jersey,  and  settled  in  that  town. 

Mr.  Prudden  had  been  a  class-mate  at  college  with  the 
Rev.  Abraham  Pierson,  jun.,  the  minister  of  Newark,  wh'i 
removed  from  that  town  during  the  summer  of  1692.  About 
this  time,  or  shortly  after,  Mr.  Prudden  seems  to  have  vis- 
ited Newark,  probably  with  a  view  to  obtain  a  settlement 
there. 

19 


52 


August  23d,  1G92,  tlie  people  of  Xewark,  at  a  town-meet- 
iuir,  agreed  to  invite  Mr.  J'ruddeu  to  l)ecome  tlieir  minister 
and  settle  among  them,  and  otiered  him  £50  a  year  and  his 
tirewood,  for  his  encouragement  and  the  comfortahle  sub- 
sistence of  his  family  ;  and  also  voted  that  he  should  have 
and  hold  sucha  "  propriety  "  and  otlicrcdiivciiiciiccs  for  his 
accommodation  in  the  town,  as  sIimuM  l.c  n-rc.  il  upon  be- 
tween him  and  the  committee  appimiti  il  to  cMur,  !'  with  him 
— who  reported  his  acceptance  of  tlu  ir  inv  itatinn  and  otfer 
to  the  same  town-meeting,  or  to  our  Ik  M  tlu>  ^aiiic  day. 

Mr.  Prudden  continued  the  minister  of  ^'cwark,  until 
June  9th,  lOlMJ,  when,  for  some  cause  or  other,  not  now 
known,  he  relincpiished  his  charge. 

lie  continued  to  reside  in  tlu'tuw  ii  attci' hi>  I'c-ignation. 
and  seems  to  have  enjuycil  t!n'  c-tccni  and  cuiitidnn-c  uf  tlie 
people.  It  appears  from  the  recordsuf  the  town,  iliat  w  Ir'U 
a  vacancy  in  the  ministry  occiirred,  he  was  gcnnally  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  committee  to  i)rocnre  anothci-  niini-tcr 
— that  he  was  actively  ciiLi'a-cd  in  tliu  x^'ttlcnu'iit  nftwo  who 
successively  succeeded  liim  :  ami  tliat  lie  wa^  nnifin'nily  em- 
ployed to  supply  the  pulpit  in  tlir  intfr\als. 

Mr.  Prudden  continued  tn  !T>idc  at  Newark,  in  a  private 
capacity,  until  his  deatli.  He  died  Deeenilier  lltli.  1725, 
aged  80  years.  Dr.  McWorter,  in  his  sernniii  of  l>t  nt'  .lan- 
iiary  1801,  states  "that  he  sustained  a  wurtliy  cliaiacter.  as 
a  man  of  sense  and  religi(>ii.  tlmugli  lie  t\i>v-  not  appear  to 
have  been  a  po]iulai-  pi-eacliei'."'  it  i-  .-ii]>]m.:-(^>,1  that  In-  pos- 
sessed a  considerable  estate,  wliieh  enaliled  liini  tn  live  mi  his 
own  means.  His  descendants  are  numerous — they  diietly 
reside  in  Morris  county,  N'ew-Jersey,  and  are  generally  \  ery 
reputable  ;  and  some  of  those  in  the  female  line,  are  said  to 
have  been  distinguished  as  very  useful  and  worthy  mendjers 
of  society. 

The  Eev.  Abner  Reeve  was  the  first  minister  of  Avhom  we 
have  any  certain  knowledge  that  preached  at  Smith  Town. 
It  is  supposed  that  he  was  born  at  South  Old.  He  gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College  in  1731.  It  is  said  that  he  preached 
at  Smith  Town,  West  Hampton,  the  Firc-Phiee,  Islip,  and 
Huntington  South;  but  it  is  not  known  that  ]\v  w.i-  ever 
settled  at  any  one  of  these  places.  It  i^  >uppM~c,|  that  he 
removed  from  LMni;--I-land  to  l')l(Hiniin-'-i:rM\ c.  in  (  )range 
county,  and  from  that  plnci' t"  I Iratt leliMi-MU-h,  In  \'i-i  niMnt. 
Very  little  is  known  .it  lii>  hi>tnry.  It  i>  ^aid  that  the  late 
Judge  Reeve,  of  LitchHeld,  in  Connecticut,  was  his  son. 


53 


The  Rev.  Napthali  Dagget,  settled  at  Smithtown  in  1751. 
Mr.  Dagget  came  from  Attleborougli,  in  Mass acliusetts.  lie 
graduated  at  Yale  College,  iu  171:8.  He  remained  at  Smith 
Town  till  1756,  when  he  received  an  invitation  from  the 
trustees  of  Yale  College  to  the  professorship  of  theology  in 
that  institution,  which  he  accepted.  After  the  death  of  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Clapp,  in  1766,  Mr.  Dagget  officiated  as  pre- 
sident till  1777,  when  he  resigned  his  office.  He  died  in 
1780. 

The  British  troops,  in  their  incendiary  expedition  against 
the  several  maratime  towns  of  Connecticut,  among  other 
enormities  that  stained  that  transaction  with  infamy,  after 
having  taken  Mr.  Dagget  and  others  prisoners,  wanton!}- 
and  shamefully  beat  and  insulted  him. 

It  is  said  that  Mr.  Dagget  was  a  good  classical  scholar,  and 
a  learned  divine. 

Of  the  Episcopal  Ch  urch  on  Long  Island. 

There  was  not  an  Episcopal  church,  or  an  Episcopal  min- 
ister in  the  colony  of  New- York,  at  the  time  of  the  concpiest, 
in  1661:,  and  if  there  were  any  Episcopalians  among  the  in- 
habitants, the  number  must  liave  been  very  small.  The  in- 
habitants either  belonged  to  the  Dutch  reformed  church,  or 
were  English  non-contormists. 

While'^the  colony  was  under  the  government  of  the  Duke 
of  York,  the  Catholics  were  encouraged,  and  very  few  Epis- 
copal families  emigrated  to  the  colony. 

After  the  revolution  in  1688,  the  Governors,  and  usually 
most  of  the  members  of  the  council  were  Episcopalians,  and 
the  patronage  of  the  government  was  almost  exclusively  con- 
fined to  those  who  were  of  that  persuasion.  Tliis  lield  out 
a  strong  inducement  to  emigration  to  people  of  that  deno- 
mination. 

The  Episcopal  population  was  for  some  time  pretty  much 
confined  to  the  city  of  N"ew-York,  and  the  first  Episc(.)pal 
church  was  erected  there  in  1696. 

Altlictugh  the  statutes  of  uniformity  did  iiot  extend  to  the 
colonies,  and  although  the  religious  constitution  of  the 
colonv  was  perfect  equality  among  protestants  of  all  deno- 
minations, yet  the  colony  governors  struggled  to  give  some 
legal  ascendancy  to  the  Episcopalians  over  other  denomina- 
tions. They  incorporated  their  churches,  which  they  refused 
to  the  Presbyterians.  They  obstructed  the  Presbyterian 
Ministers  who  came  into  the  colony  in  the  exercise  of  their 


54 


iiinctioiis,  aiul  under  pretence  of  ecclesiastical  authority, 
reciuired  tliein  to  ai'ply  to  them  lor  a  license  to  ])reach.  In 
ITCT.  Lord  Cornburv  tyrannically  and  illegally  iin})risoned 
two  Presbyterian  Ministers,  and  on  some  such  })retence  sub- 
jected one  of  them  to  great  vexation  and  expense. 

They  were  incessant  in  their  appHcatiun  to  th(^  asseml)ly 
for  the  establislimeiit  of  a  revenue  for  the  >n]i|iMrt  of  the 
Episcoi)al  clergy  until  they  worried  the  as^enilily  in  some 
measure  into  a  comi)liaiiee  with  their  wi^hes. 

In  1693,  the  colonial  a»enilily.  snliduiMl  by  the  ini]>ortunity 
of  Governor  Fletcher.  pa-M-il  an  act  for  the  set t  Ictiient  of 
ministers,  and  rai>in:i  a  iiiaiuteiiaiice  for  them  in  t!ic  city  of 
Xew-York,  and  in  the  counties  of  Westchester,  Kichnioud 
and  Queens. 

It  is  apparent  from  the  language  of  the  act,  as  well  as 
from  the  history  of  the  tinie>.  tliat  it  was  not  tlie  intention 
of  the  assendjly  (  the  Li  reatn-  part  of  whom  were  ot'i  it  lici' de- 
nominations), to  coiitine  the  benetit  of  the  stipond  exclus- 
ively to  Episcopal  ministers,  and  some  etlbrts  were  ni;i(h'to 
give  the  act  ageneral  operation.  In  161t5,the  assembly  re- 
solved that  the  benefit  of  the  act  extended  to  dissenting  pro- 
testant  ministers,  but  the  Governor  rejected  that  con^tiaic- 
tion,  and  a})plied  it  solely  to  the  Episco})al  clergy,  who  con- 
tiiUied  to  engross  the  lienefit  of  it  till  the  revolution. 

By  this  act.  Queens  county  was  divided  inti>  two  precincts, 
Ilemp-tead  and  Janiaic-i.  The  ] )i'ecinet  of  IIenip>tead  com- 
prised the  t'lwnsof  llemiistead  ami  ( )ystei'l)ay,  and  the  pre- 
cinct "f  Jamaica  comprehended  the  towns  of  .Jamaica, 
Flushini;  and  Newtown;  and  each  precinct  was  reipiired  to 
raise  L'tio  l,v  a  general  tax  on  all  the  freeholders,  tor  the  sup- 
])ortof  the  ministry. 

There  were  at  this  time  l)Ut  a  few  families  of  Episcopa- 
lians in  the  several  towns  of  Queens  county,  and  it  was 
deemed  a  grievance  that  the  great  mass  of  the  people  should 
be  obliged  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  ministers  of  an- 
other church. 

In  1773  the  people  of  Jamaica  refused  to  pay  the  stipend 
to  the  Episcopal  minister  and  made  an  appeal  to  the  court 
of  Chancery  to  be  relieved  from  the  burden,  but  it  d.M  not 
appear  that  they  obtained  any  redress  before  the  re\  iilution 
relieved  them. 

There  was  no  authority  in  the  colonies  that  could,  by  the 
constitution  of  the  Episcoi)al  church,  confer  the  ministerial 
office.    The  tirst  Episcopal  ministers  that  came  to  this 


55 


country,  had  heen  ordained  by  the  bishops  in  England,  and 
were  sent  out  as  missionaries  by  the  society  for  propagating 
the  gospel  in  foreign  parts.* 

Tlie  ecclesiastical  concerns  of  the  colonies  were  commit- 
ted to  the  care  of  the  Bishop  of  London.  The  native  col- 
onists who  wished  to  take  oi-dcrs  in  the  Episcopal  church, 
were  obliged  to  go  to  Ktigluml  fur  them,  and  this  contin- 
ued to  be  the  case  until  the  revolution. 

Some  time  previous  to  that  event,  some  efforts  were  made 
to  have  bishops  sent  to  this  country,  hut  it  was  opposed  by 
other  denominations,  imder  an  apprehension  that  the  mea- 
sure would  lead  to  the  establishment  ot  the  Episcopal  church, 
witli  the  same  prerogatives  over  other  denominations  with 
whicli  it  w  as  invested  in  England.  It  is  also  intimated  that 
the  nicasui  e  was  opposed  both  by  the  American  and  British 
state>iueii,  liut  on  quite  ditlereiit  and  opposite  grounds.  By 
the  tii'st,  on  the  gr(_>und  tliat,  a>  it  could  oidy  lie  rH'cctiMl  by 
an  act  of  Parliament,  an  admissii.tu  of  the  ]h,\vci-  of  parlia- 
ment  to  do  this  would  involve  an  admission  tliat  raidiament 
])Ossessed  power  over  the  colonies,  ineomiiatiMc  \vitli  the 
secui'ity  of  liberty,  life,  property  and  religion;  liy  the  last, 
on  the  ground  that  such  an  establishment  would  lessen  the 
dependence  of  the  colonies  on  Great  Britain,  and  would  re- 
move a  iiow  ei-ful  obstacle  to  their  independence. 

The  e\elu>ioii  of  any  connexion  between  church  and 
>tate.  and  the  etpudity  of  religiiuis  privileges,  secured  1o  all 
denomiuations  c)f  ( 'hri>tians  hy  the  cou>titutions  of  the  sev- 
eral states,  precluded  all  (ibjectiou  to  the  introduction  of 
Bishops  into  the  United  States  after  the  revolution. 

*  In  ITi'J.  \\vv<-  I-.'  Cu  Episcopal  missionaries  in  those  parts  of  North  America,  wliich  now 
comijo.-'  I  1,1'  1. to  wit.  :  In  Connecticut  in  Ni  w-York  ic,  in  Pennsylvania  9,  in 
Massarliii  \  .i  Jersey  S,  in  North  Carolina  5,  in  South  Carolina  4,  in  Hhode  Island  4, 

Georgia  J,  iiinl  III  Nru -I  lanipshire  I. 

In  1T7:;  tin'  |ii.[.ulation  of  the  colmix  "I  N'  \v  \'  nk  was  estimated  at  15',000,  and  not  more 
than  one  liftecnth  part  of  itwas  snpii      i      '     ■     iin.sed  of  Episcopalians. 

At  that  time  there  were  twenty  (II h  \,  i  n  ches  in  the  colony,  supplied  by  as  many 

missionaries;  most  of  them  were  vcr\  mill,    Imt  those  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  per- 

haps (Jueens  county,  were  at  that  tiim  ai.li-  lo  Mi.iport  their  ministers  without  the  aid  of  the 
tax,  or  of  contrihutions  from  the  society  for  propagating  the  Gospel  in  foreign  parts,  and  all 
received  some  support  from  the  society. 

The  state  of  the  different  sects  of  religion  in  the  colony  of  New- York,  in  an  estimate  formed 


-,  was  as  follows ; 

Ministers. 

Vacant  Congregations. 

Presbyterians, 

48 

15 

Dutch  Reformed, 

23 

24 

Episcopalian, 

21 

Quakers, 

17 

Anabaptists, 

12 

4 

Moravian, 

2 

Lutheran 

10 

Congregational, 

•2 

All  the  frontier  settlements  not  organized  into  churches,  were  composed  of  Presbyterians 
and  Congregationalists. 

20 


56 


Tlio  Rev.  Saimirl  Scaluirv  of  Ciniiicctlcnt  in  and 
the  liev.  Samuel  riMv..~t  ..f'  Nf\v-^',irk,  and  the  llw.  Wil- 
liamWliite  of  JAmiu.-n  Ivania,  in  17^^,  vi>ited  (ii-cat  Uritain, 
and  were  consecrated  Bishops  of  the  Episcopal  church  in 
those  states  respectively. 

The  consecration  of  tlieso  T^.islii)])s  furnished  tlie  number 
necessary  l)y  tlie  rules  of  the  Mjii-(  M|ial  cliurch,  to  confer  tlie 
Episcopal  otHce,  and  they  shoi-tly  after  consecrated  otlier 
Bishops  for  otlier  states,  and  since  that  period  the  Episcdpal 
church  in  the  United  States  has  beensupplied  with  subordi- 
nate "officers  in  each  diocese,  by  ordinations  by  the  Bishop 
of  the  diocese. 

In  1789,  the  Bishops,  clergy,  and  the  representatives  of 
the  laity,  of  the  Episcopal  chiiivli.  ill  ilu'  I'liittM  Si  ,ii  c-.  met 
in  convention,  and  made  sucli  altiiai  i..',-  in  !!,,■  . aM  itiii  ion 
of  t!i.  '  '  '   al  church  as  e>talili-lic(l  in  I  ji-land,  a.-  ren- 
der- '  a'ormable  to  our  polit ical  iu-tit utiMiis. 

Til'  1  1  1  M  iilurs  of  the  town  of  ileinp^tead  were  inde- 
pendents, and  had  successively  settled  two  coiii;-rt  uational 
ministers.  They  had  appropriated  lands  for  the  -iippMi  t  of 
the  Gospel,  which  those  ministers  had  enjoyed,  and  had 
erected  a  house  for  public  worshi^j  in  which  they  had  ofH- 
ciated. 

Mr.  Ilobart,  the  last  of  those  ministers,  had  left  the  town 
about  tlie  year  1796,  and  the  people  were  some  years  with- 
out a  niiiii-tcr  uf  any  (hMioiniiiation. 

The  iirw  -viiiTat  iiHi  that  had  sprung  lip  since  the  first 
settlenuail  of  the  t(_)wn.  m'ciii  t(;>  have  had  no  predilection 
for  the  peculiar  tenets  of  their  ancestors. 

In  1701,  some  of  the  inhal)itants  petitioned  the  society 
for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  foreign  parts,  to  send 
them  a  minister. 

In  1701:,  the  Bcv.  John  Thomas  arrived  among  them  as  a 
missionary  from  the  -aid  -.M-i,  i\. 

Mr.  Thomas  imiiiri  liai  i  l  v  amiienced  his  ministerial  labors 
at  that  place,  and  <-oiitiniad  ihi  re  during  his  life  time. 

Mr.  Thomas  dii'il  in  I  7l'  I,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Jenny,  with  whom  the  regular  records  of  the  church 
commence. 

Mr.  Tlionias  and  his  successor  performed  their  ministerial 
duties  in  a  house  which  had  been  oivctcd  foi'  the  n-r  of  the 
congregational  ministers,  witlnait  ii|i]),i-iti(in  cMniiilaint. 

It  would  seem  tliat  most  ot'  the  people  were  in  a  >hort 
time  reconciled  to  the  discipline,  rites  and  ceremonies,  of  the 


57 


Episcopal  chnrcli,  by  the  zeal  and  prudence  of  Mr.  Tho- 
mas and  Mr.  Jenny. 

The  public  lands  being  under  the  control  of  the  majority 
of  the  people,  as  soon  as  they  joined  the  Episcopal  church, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Episcopal  ministers. 

In  173-i,  they  erected  a  new  church,  and  the  next  year  a 
royal  charter  was  obtained,  whereby  the  freeholders  and  in- 
habitants of  said  town  who  were  in  communion  with  the 
church  of  England  were  incorporated,  and  constituted  a 
parish  by  the  "name  and  style  of  St.  George's  churcli, 
Hempstead,"  and  whereby  the  house  then  built,  toucthcr  w  ith 
half  an  acre  of  common  land  on  which  it  st.xKl,  ami  on 
which  the  present  parsonage  house  now  stands,  were  grant- 
ed to  them.  * 

In  1803,  a  liouse  for  public  worship  was  erected  by  tlie 
Episcopalians  in  ISTorth-Hempstead,  and  was  consecrated  by 
the  name  and  style  of  Christ  cliurch,  but  they  continued  in 
union  with  the  people  of  Hempstead  till  1819,  wlien  they 
became  a  separate  and  distinct  congregation. 

The  introduction  of  the  Episcopal  church  in  Jamaica  was 
attended  with  more  difficulty. 

The  people  of  Jamaica  were  still  generally  Presbyterians 
or  Independents. 

In  1676,  they  set  apart  a  tract  of  land  and  meadow  for  a 
parsonage,  which  they  voted  should  continue  "  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  town." 

In  1700,  they  erected  a  stone  edifice  for  public  worship  by 
subscription,  without  restricting  the  use  of  it  to  any  par- 
ticular denomination. 

^  In  1702,  Governor  Cornbury,  in  consequence  of  a  great 
sickness  in  JSTew-York,  removed  to  Jamaica  ;  and  to  ac'com- 
modatehim,  Mr.  Hubbard,  the  Presbyterian  minister,  gave 
up  to  him  the  use  of  the  parsonage  house  while  he  remamed 
there. 

During  the  time  the  Governor  was  at  Jamaica,  the  Epis- 
copalians got  possession  of  the  meeting  house,  and  refused 
the  use  of  it  to  the  Presbyterians,  and" the  Governor  on  his 
return  to  New- York  gave  them  possession  of  the  parsonage 
liouse.  ° 

The  Presbyterians  were  anxious  to  regain  the  property 
wiiich  they  considered  had  been  unjustly  wrested  from  theni, 
and  the  Episcopalians  were  determined  to  retain  what  tliey 
supposed  the  law  would  protect  them  in  holding.* 

*  In  l*!fi9,  the  people  of  Jamaica  appointed  certain  persons  to  circulate  a  subscription  to  see 
what  people  would  freely  give  towards  building  a  new  meeting  house. 


58 


These  conflicting  claims  continued  to  intermpt  the  liar- 
monv  of  tlic  town  nearly  thirty  years.  After  nnu-h  lieat 
and  controversy,  and  several  unsuccessful  law  suits,  the  E})is- 
copaliaiis  ahandoned  the  contest,  and  in  1735  erected  a  house 
themselves  for  public  worship,  which  in  1761,  was  incorpo- 
rated by  Lieutenant  Governor  Golden,  by  the  name  and 
style  of  Grace  Church.  In  1737,  when  the  seats  of  the  new 
cliurcli  were  disposed  of,  the  congregation  consisted  of 
twenty-four  families. 

This  unpleasant  contest,  so  contrary  to  the  catholic  s]»irit 
that  111  i\v  clKti-actorizcs  tlic  ilitiVrciit  dciH  mi  illations  uf  ( 'iLrist- 
ians.  i  -  Im  !„■  iiM-rilicd  tu  I  hr  tciiiiici'  nf  t  he  t  iino.  and  \\  a>  pi'ub- 
ably  for-tiTiMl  if  not  r.xcited  by  the-  higotry  of  the  Go\i'riior. 

St.  George's  church  at  Flushing,  and  St.  James'  chni'ch 
at  J^^ewtown,  were  built  shortly  after  the  one  at  Jamaica, 
and  the  same  minister  ofKciated  one  third  of  tlie  time  in  each, 
until  the  year  1797. 

In  IT'.h;,  Xewtowii  so]iarated  from  the  other  towns,  and 
employed  Mr.  Van  \  )\  Vr  a-  I  heir  niini>tor. 

In  18(12,  Newtow  n  and  i'"hi>hing  united  in  the  settlement 
of  a  lllini^tel•.  and  in  I'^li',  tliey  sei>arated,  since  which  time 
each  town  ha>  liad  it>  own  mini>ter. 

Tile  several  Ej.iseopal  eliurclu's  on  the  Island  were  erected 
at  the  times,  and  consecrated  by  the  names  and  titles  fol- 
lowing : 

In  Brookhaven,  CarMlinc  ( 'Imrch,  1730 
In  Hempstead,  St.  (  mm  .i  -vV  ( 'hurch,  173-1 
In  .lamaiea,  Grace  (  hni-cli,  do. 

Ill  Newtown,  St.  .Iaine>"  Chiu-eh,        do.  (  or  shortly 

111  yiushing,  St.  ( o'oi'i;-e">  (  hureli,     do.  i  after. 

In  Huntington,       St.  .lohnV  (  liiircli,       1761   or  there- 
in Islip,  St.  .l.ihnV  Clnirch,       1766  [abouts. 
In  Brooklyn.  St.  Ann'M 'Imreh,  1787 
In  Xorth  ilempstead,  (  In-i-t  (  hureh.  1808 

Some  of  these  churches  havt'  iiiidergone  repairs,  and  seve- 
ral of  them  have  been  relniilt.  Xew  and  elegant  cliurelies 
were  erected  in  Hempstead  and  Jamaica  in  1822,  and  in 
Brooklyn  in  1821:. 

February  6th,  ITIO,  the  town  appointed  three  men  to  demand  the  key  of  the  stone  meetini; 
house,  frciin  the  jutsdi;  in  wlioso  pnsscssion  it  was,  and  to  keep  the  house  for  the  town. 

April,  K-^  'Im  I..',.  !i  ;n,|Miiiii,M  ll,r.  ,.  mrii  tn  |M,--,-^inii  of  lliu  town  iiarsona^je  lot  and 
other  1  I '  ■    '       '  .  ,  ' 

Janii  ;     I'  I  i  -    I'.:  iiiiiii-i.'i-,         i:iil...l  in  "-veral 

ejeclni'  .  ■  •  •  II..-  p:  .-i-j.-  hill.!  'li.  town 

voted  ■  ■  .  !  i:..ii.  I  II:.  1)  Mll.i^tur. 

Mr.  V'  I!  .    -,,  .1  1 

Fel.i  I  ,!..!         .  ■  i.-h  it 


59 


A  li><f  of  tlif  Ji/'nf  Ephi-itpal  ^['in'isiei'if  and  their  successors, 
in  till  xri-i  rid  finri,.'<  <>n  tin   IxIiukJ  (IS  far  as  the  same 

COUhl  he  2>l'"<'i( l'<_  (/ . 


Europe, 

Harvard, 

Pembroke, 

Columbia, 

Nassau, 

Yale. 

Europe. 


1  Harvard, 
lEnjiland. 
1  Columbia. 


its: 

1786,1803 
11805 
17S3il806 
180T 
lS04|lsn8 
180811809 
180s!l8l0 


Union. 

ISll 

isl-j 
IS-JO 

Yale. 

1-54 

1767 

1773 

1824 

\V  X  ,1,  1.  .  (  ,n„i.bell. 

England. 

175.5 
1729 

do. 

1733 

1747 

Ireland, 

1747 

17SG 

And'r.Mv'Fiinier, 

Harvard, 

1-83 

1787 

17SS 

 .  Bur.L'e's, 

Charles  Seabury, 

1S14 

ISLIP. 

Tliomas  L.  Moore, 

1781 

1785 

Brooklyn. 

Georire  'Wright, 

Ireland, 

17S7 

1792 

Mr.  Doty, 

1793 

1795 

Samuel  N'esliit, 

Scotland, 

1795 

1797 

.John  Irelaufl, 

En^'land, 

1798 

1806 

Henry  I.  Feltus, 

Ireland, 

l8l)7 

1S14 

John  P.  K.  Henshaw, 

Middlebury, 

180311814 

1817 

Hugh  Smith, 

Columbia, 

1S13|181T 

1819 

Henry  U.  Onderdonk," 

do. 

1S10|1S19 

1827 

*  Missionaries  from  Society  for 
propagating  the  Gospel. 


Bishop  of  New  York. 


Bishop  of  Connecticut. 


Si.K  months  each, 
j  One  year  each. 


Preached  at  Newtown  and  Flush 


The  church  served  by  supplies. 


Removed  to  Newark. 
Served  by  supplies. 


Removed  to  Philadelphia, 


*  In  some  cases,  the  time  of  settlement  and  removal  of  the  above  ministers  has  been  insert- 
ed on  verbal  information,  and  may  not  be  exact. 

In  most  Instances  the  facts  are  taken  from  records,  and  in  cases  where  the  records  furnished 
no  information,  or  were  not  to  be  procured,  pains  have  been  taken  to  get  as  correct  information 
as  possible. 


60 


A  h'i''f  account  of  some  of  the  first  Episcopal  Ministers 
that  settled  on  Long-Island. 

The  first  Episcopal  Ministers  who  settled  on  tlie  Island, 
as  was  before  stated,  were  missionaries  sent  over  by  tlie  so- 
ciety for  tlie  ])ropao,-Htion  of  tlie  (rospel  in  foreiijn  parts,  and 
were  supported  at  the  expense  of  the  said  society.  They 
were  born  and  educated  in  (ircat  Jiritain  or  Ireland,  and 
were  generally  well  educated  nicii. 

The  first  Episcopal  Church  on  tlic  Island  was  estalilished 
at  Hempstead — and  the  tii'st  Minx-opal  niiiii>tci'  w  lio  -cttled 
on  the  Island,  was  the  Kc\-.  .lolm  'FlKiiiia--.  \\  lh>  -mras 
a  missionary  to  thir-  counrry  at  the  soliciratioii  of  ihc  peo- 
ple of  Hempstead. 

Mr.  Thomas  arrived  at  TIem])stead  in  1704.  Jle  found 
very  few  persons  anionu'thc  iidialiitants  who  were  aci|iiaint- 
ed  with  the  discipline,  rites  and  eereiiioine,--  of'  tlio  l\|.i-co- 
])al  Church.  He  found  the  children  without  tlir  iii.  an-  <»f 
education,  and  the  state  of  society  such  as  is  u-iiall\  tin-  re- 
sult of  the  want  of  public  instruction  and  an  e:-talilidied 
ministry. 

Mr.  'hionias  had  to  encouiitci-  the  dithcult  task  ol' uniting 
a  mixed  and  <li>coi'(lant  [lopulation  into  one  society,  and  of 
reducing  tlu-ni  t'l  onlei'  ami  reuiilavity. 

He  immediately -et  ah. ml  oi'-ani/ing  a  church,  and  intro- 
ducing ordei'  and  attention  tn  i-eliui'Mi-  duties. 

In  17i;>.  at  hi-  -ollritatlim.  the  -nciety  foi'  pro])agating 
the  (xospel.  made  a  grant  of  tin  a  year  for  the  p\triPo-e  of 
aiding  the  c^-tal>li>hnient  of  a  school  and  sn])port  of  a  com- 
petent teachei'.  for  which  the  vestrv  returned  them  their 
thaidcs. 

Mr.  Thomas  seems  to  have  been  l;d,>orions  and  successful 
in  his  efforts  to  meliorate  the  condition  of  the  town. 

In  1720,  he  infoi-nied  the  -.i,-iety  that  within  eighteen 
months  he  had  baptized  (,ne  hundred  and  sixty  ptMvous, 
many  of  whom  were  adults. 

Mr.  Thomas  continued  at  Hempstead  till  his  death.  He 
died  in  1724. 

The  ]{ev.  Thomas  Jenny  succeeded  ^Ir.  Thomas  in  1725, 
and  continued  in  that  church  till  1742.  when  he  removed 
from  there.    Lirth'  i-  known  .,f  the  eharaetei-of  ?kli-.  Jenny. 

The  liev.  Samuel  Seaimry  -neeeeded  Mi',  .ieiiny  in  1742. 
Mr.  Seahury  gr;iduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1724.  and 
shortly  afterwards  settled  as  a  congregational  minister  at 


61 


-Groton,  in  Connecticut.  After  some  time  spent  in  that 
station,  lie  became  a  convert  to  the  discipline,  rites  and  forms 
of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  resigned  his  charge.  He  soon 
after  joined  the  Episcopal  Church,  took  the  necessary  steps 
to  obtain  orders,  and  was  appointed  to  preach  in  New-Lon- 
don, April  10th,  1732.  Mr.  Seaburv  left  Xew-London,  and 
came  to  Long-Island  and  settled  at  Ilempstead  in  1742.  Lie 
continued  at  Hempstead  till  his  deatli  in  1701. 

Mr.  Seabury  was  a  popular  preacher,  and  contributed  to 
strengthen  and  extend  the  influence  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
in  that  part  of  the  country. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Poyer  arrived  at  Jamaica  in  1710,  as  a 
missionary  from  the  society  for  propagating  the  Gospel  in 
foreign  parts,  and  was  the  second  Episcopal  clergyman  who 
settled  on  Long-Island.  He  found  the  town  distracted  witli 
a  controversy  between  the  Episcopalians  and  I'l-csliyterians 
respecting  the  legitimate  owinTsliip  of  tlu'  land-  ^vlli(•ll  liad 
been  set  apart  for  the  support  of  the  go^pul  in  that  tiiwn, 
and  (if  the  building  that  had  been  erected  in  1700,  by  a  gen- 
I'l'al  >ulisci'iption,  for  public  worship.  These  had  been  seized 
by  the  Episcopalians  in  1702,  for  their  exclusive  use,  and 
their  right  to  tliem  was  vigorously  contested  by  the  Presby- 
terians, who  at  that  time  constituted  much  the  most  numer- 
ous proportion  of  the  inhabitants. 

Mr.  Poyer,  probably  under  the  impression  that  the  Epis- 
i-upal  ( 'liurch  in  the  colonies  was  entitled  to  the  same  ascen- 
(liMicy  dissenters  as  in  England,  joined  the  Episcopa- 
lians, and  became  their  organ  in  their  controversies  with  the 
Presbyterians. 

This  controversy  disturbed  the  harmony  of  the  town  dur- 
ing the  life  time  of  Mr.  Poyer,  and  was  calculated  to  di- 
minish the  beneficial  effects  of  the  sacred  function. 

Mr.  Poyer  was  strongly  attached  to  the  church,  and  had 
he  not  been  imhappily  entangled  with  this  controversy  he 
might  have  contributed  probably  essentially  to  her  increase 
and  extension.    He  died  in  1731. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Colgan  succeeded  Mr.  Poyer  in  1732. 
Mr.  Colgan  was  also  a  missionary  from  the  society  for  pro- 
pagation the  Gospel  in  foreign  parts.  He  arrived  at  Jamaica 
in  1732,  about  the  time  the  Episcopalians  relinquished  the 
struggle  for  the  church  and  parsonage  land  in  that  town, 
and  wvve  directing  their  efforts  to  the  erection  of  a  cliurch 
of  their  own,  which  they  completed  in  173-1. 

The  Episcopalians  in  Newtown  and  Flushing  about  the 


62 


same  time  or  sliortly  after,  erected  clmrclies  in  those  par- 
ishes. 

Mr.  Colgan,  freed  from  the  distracting  cares  which  had 
engrossed  liis  predecessor,  was  left  at  liberty  to  devote  his 
whole  time  to  his  ministerial  duties.  Mr.  Colgan  continued 
in  the  charge  of  the  three  ])arishes  till  his  death  in  1755. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  8eal)urv.  jun.,  lirst  hisliop  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  United  States,  and  IJishop  of  Connecti- 
cut, succeeded  Mr.  Colgan  in  175G.  Mr.  Seahury  was  the 
son  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Seabury,  of  Hempstead.  He  was 
horn  in  1728,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1  74S.  He 
shortly  after  visited  Scotland  with  a  view  of  .-tii<lyiiig  phy- 
sic, but  soon  turned  his  attention  to  (li\  inity.  He  went 
from  thence  to  London,  and  was  admitted  to  the  order  of 
deacon  and  priest  in  1753.  On  his  retuKiJ,  Mr.  Seal)ury 
preached  two  or  three  yeai-s  at  l!i'uii>\vick.  in  Kew-.Iersey. 
In  1750  he  removed  fnuii  tliat  ]il;(ce  ■a\i>\  >i-\\\r'l  at  .lamaica 
on  Long-Island.  In  17<')5  he  left  .lamaira  and  settled  at 
Westchester,  in  which  place  he  contimied  until  the  Kevulu- 
tionary  War,  when  he  retired  to  jS'ew-Vork  :  after  the  i-e- 
turn  of  peace  he  settled  at  New-London.  In  17^4  he  went 
to  England  for  consecration  as^ Bishop  of  Conneetieut.  In 
consequence  of  the  occurrence  of  s(Mne  difficulties  (nut  of  a 
personal  nature)  to  the  accomplishment  of  his  wishes,  he 
went  to  Scotland,  and  was  consecrated  by  three  nonjuring 
bishops.  On  his  return  lie  fixed  his  residence  at  New-Lon- 
don, where  he  (•oiitiinied  in  tlie  faitht'ul  discliarge  of  the 
duties  of  his  elevated  function,  till  his  death  in  17*,'<'>. 

Bishop  Seabury  was  held  in  high  estimation — he  was 
warmly  attached  to  the  interests  of  the  clnireh,  ut'  which 
he  was  an  ornament,  and  M^as  indefatigable  in  his  exertions 
to  extend  its  limits,  and  to  add  to  its  reputation  and  in- 
fluence. 

The  Bishop  published  a  few  detached  discourses,  and  two 
volumes  of  sermons  in  his  life  time,  and  another  volume 
was  i)ubli>licd  al'tri'  his  death. 

Within  iMity  years  past,  there  have  been  a  number  of 
Meth(idi>t  s(K-ietie^  formed  on  the  Island,  but  the  number  is 
not  exactly  known. 

There  are  a  number  of  parishes  in  the  several  towns,  and 
there  are  several  congregational  societies  in  the  eastern  part 
of  Suffolk  county,  but  the  number  and  names  of  the  minis- 
ters are  not  ascertained. 

The  Friends  formed  societies  in  Flushing  and  Oysterba} 


63 


at  an  early  period  of  those  settlements,  which  have  increased 
and  form  a  large  proportion  of  the  population  of  those 
towns,  but  the  number  of  the  societies  is  not  known. 

There  area  number  of  Baptists  scattered  about  the  island, 
but  no  organized  societies  are  known  except  at  Oysterbaj 
and  Brooklyn. 

Of  the  several  tribes  of  Indians  on  Long- Island. 

When  the  first  settlements  were  made  on  the  island  by 
the  Dutch  and  English,  it  appears,  from  the  original  Indian 
deeds,  that  the  principal  tribes  that  occupied  it,  were  as  fol- 
lows : 

The  Canarse,  the  Rockaway,  the  Merikoke,  the  Marsa- 
peague,  the  Secatague,  and  the  Batchague,  on  the  south  side 
— the  Matinecoc,  the  Nissaquague,  the  Satauket,  and  the 
Corchaug,  on  the  north  side  ;  the  Shinecoc,  the  Manhanset 
and  the  Montauk,  from  the  Canoe  Blace  to  Montauk  point. 

The  Canarse  appears  to  have  been  the  only  tribe,  or  the 
only  tribe  of  any  consequence,  in  Kings  county.  This  tribe 
claimed  the  chief  part  of  the  lands  in  Kings  county,  and  a 
part  of  the  lands  in  Jamaica. 

The  Rockaway  tribe  claimed  the  territory  around  Rocka- 
way, and  more  or  less  of  the  lands  in  Newtown  and  Jamaica. 

The  Merikoke  and  Marsapeague  tribes  extended  from 
Rockaway  through  Queens  county  into  Suffolk,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  island. 

The  tejTitory  of  the  Matiuecoc  tril^e  extended  from 
Flushing  through  Queens  county  to  Fresh  Bond  in  Sulfblk, 
on  the  north  side. 

The  Nissaquague  tribe  extended  from  Fresh  Bond  to 
Stony-brook. 

The  Satauket  tribe  claimed  from  Stony-brook  to  thq  Wad- 
ing river. 

The  Corchaug  tribe  extended  from  the  Wading  river 
through  South  Old  on  the  north  side. 

The  territory  of  the  Manhanset  tribe  was  Shelter-Island. 

The  territory  of  the  Secataug  tribe  adjoined  that  of  the 
Marsapeagues  and  extended  to  Batchogue. 

The  territory  of  the  Batchogue  tribe  extended  to  South 
Hampton. 

The  Shinecoc  tribe  extended  from  the  Canoe  Blace  to 
Montauk,  and  that  peninsula  was  the  seat  of  the  Montauk 
tribe. 

There  are  one  or  two  other  tribes  named  in  the  old  records, 


64 


but  tlie  place  they  occupied  cannot  l)e  ascertained,  and  it  is 
evident  from  that  circumstance,  tliat  tliey  must  liave  heen 
very  small,  perhaps  the  mere  remnants  of  tril)es  which  liad 
been  destroyed  in  their  wars. 

Those  above  enumerated  are  the  ]>rinci]>al  ti'il)es  that  oc- 
cu])ied  the  island  when  the  English  and  Dutch  commenced 
their  settlements  there,  and  the  original  purchases  of  the 
several  towns  w'ere  made  of  these  tribes. 

The  Indian  settlements  were  all  mi  the  l)ays,  creeks  and 
harbors  on  the  north  and  south  sides  ul'  the  i.■^land,  and  their 
territories  were  divided  from  each  other  by  the  middle  of 
the  island. 

At  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of  the  Island,  the  whole 
Indian  population  was  considerable,  but  by  no  meaiis  as 
great  as  the  facilities  of  subsistence  M'ould  have  authorized 
us  to  expect.  ii(ir  as  i^i'oat  as  it  ])rnlialily  had  tbrincrly  been. 

The  shell  Kaiik-  u  liicli  indicate  the  Htesuf  tlicir  villages, 
on  the  western  half  ul'  the  island,  ai'e  large  and  iiunieruus, 
and  beds  of  shells  of  some  size  or  other  are  found  at  inter- 
vals of  a  few  miles  all  around  the  margin  of  the  island. 
From  tliese  it  would  seem  tliat  the  population  of  some  parts 
of  the  i-lainl  \\a-<'iicr  \ei-y  numerous,  or  must  have  been 
statiunary  tlieri' a  long  time.'--" 

The  state  of  the  Indian  population  must  be  ascriljed  to 
their  perpetual  wars,  by  which  they  had  been  diminished. 

All  savaiiv  tiatiuns  are  addicted  to  war.  The  causes  of 
war  anions  ilu  in  are  numerous.,  and  the  mode  of  carryingit 
on  destructive  to  their  nuiuliciv. 

It  appears  that  Long  l-laml  had  been  over-run  by  hostile 
tribes,  and  many  of  the  iiati\  e,~  must  have  been  destroyed 
by  them. 

Of  the  Political  State  of  the  I/uNans. 

The  confederacy  of  the  five  nations  extended  their  con- 
quests as  far  south  as  Manhattan  Island,  and  had  passed 
over  to  the  west  end  of  Long-Island,  and  subdued  the  Can- 
arse  Indians. 

There  is  a  tradition  among  the  Dutch,  that  at  the  tinie  of 
the  first  settlement  of  the  island,  the  ("anarse  tribe  paid  the 
Mohawks  an  annual  tribute  of  wampum  and  (li'ie(l  clams, 
and  that  they  discontinued  the  payment  of  it  on  the  persua- 

*  The  shell  banks  in  the  western  towns  of  SufTolk  county  are  much  larper  and  more  numer- 
ous than  in  the  eastern  towns,  where  shell  fish  are  as  abundant :  wliicli  proves  that  the  western 
part  of  the  island  had  been  the  longest  settled,  and  that  the  Indian  emigration  jiroceeded  from 
west  10  east. 


65 


sion  of  the  whites,  in  consequence  of  which  a  party  of  the 
conqnerers  came  and  destroyed  the  whole  tribe,  except  a 
few  who  happened  to  be  from  home. 

Some  writers  have  supposed  that  tlie  conquest  of  the  Mo- 
hawks extended  to  the  whole  island,  but  there  is  no  tradition 
to  support  it,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  conquest  never  ex- 
tended beyond  the  territories  of  the  Canarse  Indians. 

This  may  have  been  owinij  to  the  fact  that  all  the  other 
Indians  were  in  subjectiuu  to  tin-  Pequots.  It  is  well  known 
that  this  tribe  never  wa>  >ub(lii('(l  by  the  five  nations,  and  it 
would  have  been  a  viulat'un  of  their  rules  of  warfare,  to 
have  turned  their  arms  ai^-aiiista  tributary  people,  when  they 
had  not  subdued  the  power  that  held  them  in  subjection. 

The  Montauks  had  probably  been  the  most  warlike  tribe 
on  Long-Island,  had  overrun  the  other  tribes  on  the  island 
east  of  the  Canarse  territory,  and  had  reduced  them  to 
some  kind  of  sulijection. 

At  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of  the  island,  the  Mon- 
tauk  sachem  claimed  and  exercised  some  kind  of  sovereignty 
over  the  whole  territory,  and  it  is  stated  that  he  justified  his 
claim  l)efore  the  governor  and  council  in  virtue  of  a  former 
conquest  of  the  country.  *In  1059,  he  conveyed  the  terri- 
tory which  constitutes  the  town  of  Smithtown,  then  occu- 
pied l)y  the  Nissaquague  Indians,  to  Lyon  Gardiner. 

It  was  under  a  belief  of  his  superiority  over  the  chiefs  of 
the  other  tribes,  that  the  first  settlers  were  anxious  to  have 
their  }>urchase  deeds  signed  by  that  chief,  as  well  as  by  the 
sachem  of  the  tribe  of  whom  the  land  was  purchased. 

The  confirmation  deed  of  Hempstead  in  1G57,  the  deed 
for  Lloyd's  neck,  and  others,  are  executed  in  this  manner, 
and  in  some  of  the  original  deeds  the  Montauk  chief  is  stjded 
the  sachem  of  Long-Island. 

The  superiority  ascribed  to  the  chief  of  that  tribe  after 
the  settlem.ent  of  the  country,  might  have  arisen  in  part 
from  the  distinction  conferred  on  him  or  recognized  by  the 
commissioners  of  the  united  colonies. 

In  1651,  it  is  stated  in  some  of  our  early  records,  that  they 
constituted  one  who  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  Montauk 
chief,  grand  sachem  of  the  Long-Island  Indians. 

*  It  IS  a  little  im^-rrtHin  niinf  was  the  general  Indian  name  of  Long-Tsland.  In  several  old 
deeds  Mm-  Mmhi  <  Ih-i  i-  -n  i  h,,- sachem  of  "  Paumanacke,  or  Long-Island."  Hubbard,in 
hishistiii        \      i     'i  .  that  at  the  time  of  the  grant  to  the  Karl  of  Stirling  in  1C:JS, 

it  was  .      'i  ii  uiwake,  and  in  the  patent  to  the  Duke  of  York  10C>1,  it  is 

called  Ml  i;  livax.  It  1.-  I"  li'i  i-l  tliat  the  name  given  by  Hubbard  was  the  general  Ind  an  name 
for  the  i^lalul. 

By  a  statute  passed  April  lOth,  1698,  it  was  enacted  that  the  island  should  be  called  Nassau, 
and  should  be  so  styled  in  all  legal  proceedings,  which  has  never  been  repealed,  but  has  by 
general  consent  been  snffereU  to  become  absolete. 


66 


It  is  probalile  that  the  commissioners  only  rooo<rnizecl  or 
confirmed  an  aiitliurity  witli  which  they  tbiuid  him  invested. 

It  is  evident  frum  the  early  writers  ot"  Ni'W  iMiiihind,  tliat 
the*Pe(]uots,  avIio  occupied  the  country  around  Xew-London, 
and  was  the  most  warlike  tribe  in  ( ''nuuct  icut,  had  subdued 
the  Montauks  with  their  tributaries,  and  that  at  thf  time  of 
the  first  settlement  of  IVew-Kuixland,  the  J>uiii^-Island  Indians 
Avere  in  subjection  to  the  Pe(juots,  and  i>aid  them  a  tribute. 
The  victory  over  the  Montauks  involved  the  subjection  of 
all  the  tribes  that  were  under  them,  and  the  conquest  of  the 
Pequots  must  have  einbraced  all  the  tribes  on  the  island  east 
of  the  Canarse  territory. 

In  1()8T,  the  New-England  colonies  made  war  on  the  Pe- 
quots,  to  avenge  the  murders  and  other  hostile  aggressions 
which  they  had  committed  on  the  whites,  and  subdued  and 
dispersed  the  whole  tribe.  The  Long-Island  Indians  who 
had  been  subject  to  the  Pe(|Uot>.  inmuMliately  rcpairecl  to 
theEnglishto  make  their  ])eace  willi  them,  ^\'inthl•o]>.  in 
his  journal,  -talo  that  on  the  reduction  of  the  l'e<|Uots  in 
1637,  "saehi'iii>  tVdin  Long-Island  came  vuluntarily  and 
brought  a  tribute  to  us  of  twenty  fathom  of  wami)uni  each 
of  them." 

Frotu  this  time  they  seem  to  have  considered  themselves 
to  be  in  snbirct ion  to  ili,-  I  ji-li.-li.  and  to  have  paid  them 
tribute,  perlia].- thr  >aiiii' \  liad  paid  to  the  Pequots.  In 
1044  they  ;i|iiilic(|  t,,  ilir  roiiinii--io!iei-s  tor  some  evidence 

of  theii-  i-elatioii  to  ilu  in.  and  the  co  li^ioiieiv  gave  tlieni 

a  certilicate  in  wi'iting,  in  elieet  ]tronusing  them  security 
from  injury  by  the  English,  and  all  others  in  friendship 
with  them  ;  at  which  time  they  assured  the  commissioners 
'*  that  they  had  been  tribiitarie.>  to  tlieLiiglisli  ever  since  the 
Pequot  war.  and  that  tliey  had  never  injui'ed  the  English  or 
Dutch,  but  had  been  friendly  to  both,""  which  implied  that 
thev  had  been  subject  to  tiie  Pequots  and  followed  their 
Me. 

In  1G50,  the  commis^ioiiei'-  sent  captain  ^Ta^oii  to  Lon^-- 
Island  to  require  [layment  of'  the  ti'ilaiti'  dne  troni  the  In- 
dians there,  and  to  >ettle  a  way  in  which  it  might  be  punc- 
tually discharged  in  future. 

In  1G56,  the  Montauk  chief  visited  the  commissioners  at 

•"The  Pcfiuni-  «.!.,,  wvy  wililik,.  and  potent  people  about  4'i  vn-  -iii<'  <  1 1:.' 1 1.  at 
which  time  lhe.v  «.  I .  i].  111.  ir  iMihii.iii.  Tliuir  chief  sachem  held  iloiriini.ui  .Ardiiii.  |.,ttv 
sagamores,  as  uvci  /w,/  ,,/  /,,,„,,./,/,/,,/,  over  tlie  Mohegans,  and  ov.  i  Ih.  -  uaiii  .ns  of 
Quinai)ak,  yea  ovur  all  lli,-  |ieo|,le  tl.al  dwell  on  Connecticut  river,  undovur  some  ot  tl.o  most 
southerly  inhabitants  of  the  .Nipiuuck  country  about  Quinabaug." 

GooKiN's  History. 


67 


Boston,  and  in  answer  to  an  inqxiiry  whether  he  had  paid 
the  tiilnite  due  from  him  stated  that  he  liad  paid  it  at 
Hartford  for  tlie  space  of  ten  years,  and  that  it  was  in 
arrear  for  the  four  Last  years,  wliich  tliey  remitted  in  consid- 
eration of  his  distressed  condition  ]»y  the  late  war  in  which 
he  had  been  eiiii-age<l  witli  the  Xarragansetts. 

In  1653,  Xiniii<;-i-ate,  the  chief  of  the  Xehantic  Indians, 
who  were  eitlier  a  tribe  of  the  Xarragansetts  or  closely  con- 
nected with  them,  made  war  on  the  Lon£!;-Island  Indians, 
which  lasted  several  years,  and  reduced  tlieni  to  great  extrem- 
ity. He  invaded  the  territory  of  tlie  Montauks,  and  would 
have  extirpated  the  whole  tribe,  if  they  had  not  found  pro- 
tection in  the  liumatiity  of  the  people  of  East  Hampton. 

They  were  obliged  to  abandon  their  villages,  and  to  llee 
for  refuge  to  East  Hampton,  where  they  were  kindly  re- 
ceived, sustained,  and  protected.  They  continued  to  reside 
in  that  town  for  several  years,  before  they  deemed  it  safe 
to  return  to  Montauk. 

In  1655,  Mr.  Thomas  James,  the  minister  of  East  Hamp- 
ton, and  others,  wrote  to  the  commissioners  and  informed 
them  that  the  Indians  on  the  island  must  submit  themselves 
and  their  country  to  the  Xarragansetts,  unless  the}^  should 
speedily  have  some  assistance. 

The  connnissioners  sent  millitary  supplies  to  the  towns  of 
East  Hampt(jn  and  South  Hampton,  and  to  the  Indians. 
They  stationed  an  armed  vessel  in  the  sound  under  the  com  - 
mand  of  Captain  John  Youngs,  with  orders  to  stave  Xinni- 
grate's  canoes,  and  to  destroy  his  forces  if  he  attempted  to 
pass  over  to  the  island. 

The  commissioners  also  gave  orders,  that  in  case  the  en- 
emy should  pursue  the  Indians  within  two  miles  of  any  of 
the  settlements,  the  inhabitants  should  immediately  repair 
to  their  assistance.  During  the  same  season  they  sent  a 
small  force  against  Xinnigrate,  which  was  rendered  intfec- 
tual  by  the  mismanagement  of  the  officer  who  was  entrusted 
with  the  command. 

•  It  is  not  easy,  at  this  distance  of  time,  to  perceive  the  justice  of  the  imposition  of  this  tri- 
bute imposed  on  the  Montaulis,  who,  with  a  few  exceptions  of  individuals  of  mischievous  dis- 
position, appear  to  have  been  uniformly  friendly  and  faithful  to  the  English.  In  1G50  the 
Pequots  remonstrated  against  the  tribute  exacted  of  them,  and  inquired  why  it  was  imposed, 
and  how  long  it  was  to  continue,  and  whether  their  children  unborn  were  to  be  subject  to  it. 
In  answer  to  these  inquiries,  the  commissioners  stated  that  it  was  imposed  in  163"  for  the  mur- 
ders they  had  committed  and  which  they  had  agreed  to  pay.  They  agreed,  however,  to  re- 
mit all  that  was  in  arrear,  and  that  it  should  only  continue  ten  years  longer,  during  which  time 
it  was  exacted.  It  is  not  probable  that  the  tribute  was  continued  longer  on  the  Montaulis  than 
on  the  Pequots,  and  the  only  cause  of  its  imposition  seems  to  have  been  their  former  sulijec- 
tion  to  that  tribe,  and  that  it  probably  ceased  to  be  exacted  in  relation  to  both  tribes  after 
1660. 

23 


68 


111  1(550, Massachusetts  declined  fiirtlier  aid  in  siip])ressiiig 
the  war  of  N iiiiii<):rate  a<rainst  tlie  JMoiitanks,  and  the  wIkjIc 
burden  ot'tlieir  defence  devcdved  on  the  colonies  of  Connec- 
ticut and  New-lJaven.  They  generously  continued  Ciiptain 
Youngs  with  his  vessel  on  the  same  station  that  year  at  tlieir 
sole  exi)ense,  and  the  war  seems  not  to  have  ceased  until  the 
end  of  the  year  It'iotl,  or  ]ierhaps  some  time  in  1657. 

In  one  of  their  eiiterprizes,  the  Narragaiisetts,  among 
others,  took  the  daughter  of  Wyaiidancc,  the  diicf  ^aclicm, 
prisoner,  Avho  was  ransomed  by  the  aid  of  l-ymi  ( lardiiicr,  the 
tirst  proprietor  of  GradiiierV  Island,  in  gratitude  for  which, 
the  chief,  in  1659, presented  liiiawlth  adccclfor  the  terri- 
tory which  now  forms  the  tow  n  of  Smith  Town.* 

These  various  and  success! vr  gcnci'al  \\  ars,  with  such  as 
may  have  taken  place  between  x'paratc  tiiho.  inu>t  have  con- 
tributed greatly  to  itmIucc  their  iiiiinliers,  and  to  render  the 
whole  island  inuch  less  populous  than  it  would  otherwise 
have  been  at  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of  the  eountry. 

Of  the  tribes  that  were  found  on  Long-l>laud,  there  re- 
main only  a  few  families  of  Montauks  and  IShinecocs,  with 

*  Lyon  Gardiner  was  a  Scotchman,  and  had  served  as  a  Lieutenant  in  the  British  army  in 
the  low  countries  :  he  came  over  in  1635,  and  erected  the  fort  at  Saybroolf,  under  lords  Say  and 
Seal,  Brooke,  and  othere,  and  had  the  command  of  the  garrison  until  the  fall  of  1639,  when  he 
removed  to  the  island  that  has  since  been  called  after  liim,  which  he  had  purchased  of  the  na- 
tive proprietors,  and  was  confirmed  to  him  by  a  deed  from  James  Farret,  "  deputy  of  the  Right 
Honorable  the  Earl  of  Stirling,  Secretary  of  the  Kingdom  of  Scotland,"  bearing  date  the  10th 
of  March,  10!!). 

Lyon  Gardiner's  son  David,  born  at  Saybrook  29th  April,  1636,  is  supposed  to  have  been  the 
first  white  cliild  born  in  tlie  bounds  of  Connecticut,  and  his  daughter  Klizaheth,  born  on  the  Is- 
land, September  14th,  li)41,  may  have  been  the  first  English  child  born  within  the  territory  of 
New-Vork.  Lieutenant  (iardiner  carried  several  families  with  him  to  the  island,  probably  for 
security,  as  they  nniMvi  il  to  Ka-<t  Hampton  as  soon  as  tliat  town  was  settled. 

He  seems  to  have  hmi  in  lii^jli  estimation  both  with  tlie  English  and  Indians. 

Wyandance,  in  Hir',',  in. -.nied  hira  a  deed  for  the  territory  which  now  forms  the  town  of 
Smith  Town,  in  gratitude  lor  the  favors  he  had  received  from  him.  He  removed  to  East  Ilamp* 
ton,  in  1655,  and  was  freciueutly,  if  not  uniformly,  chosen  to  the  magistracy  of  that  town  till  his 
death  in  1663. 

Gardiner's  Island,  which  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  Lyon  Gardiner,  in  1663,  was  appraised 
at  £700,  now  pays  about  one-sixth  part  of  the  taxes  of  East  Hampton.    The  island  contains 
iOOO  acres,  of  which  600  are  refuse,  and  about  the  year  ISOO  maintained  on  an  average  yearly  : 
In  Winter,  200,  and  in  Summer,  340  head  of  neat  cattle, 
do.  60  do.  80  horses, 

do.  40  do.  60  swine, 

do.  1500  do.        2-20(1  sheep. 

There  was  at  that  time  commonly  raised  on  the  Island  yearly  : 

511  acres  of  wheat  yielding  about  17  bushels  per  acre. 
25  acres  of  Indian  corn,  do.  3."i  bushels  per  acre. 
15   do.  of  oats,    do.      30  do. 

10   do.  of  flax,   do.        8  bushels  seed  per  acre. 

It  yielded  about  250  tons  of  English  and  100  tons  of  meadow  hay,  and  employed  on  an  aver 
age,  winter  and  summer,  about  sixteen  hands. 

This  island  has  continued  entire  in  the  same  family,  and  the  present  owner,  David  Johnson 
Gardiner,  is  the  eighth  owner,  and  seventh  lin.  ,il  ie^'( ,  n  lnnt  from  Lyon  Gardiner. 

The  celebrated  pirate  Kid  called  at  this  islan-l  nn  hi-  to  lioston,  when  he  returned  from 
his  cruise  in  1699,  and  deposited  there  a  bux  ..|  -.,1,1, er,  and  precious  stones,  under  the 
charge  and  at  the  risk  of  the  then  owner,  an  account  I  «hich  w.is  found  among  his  papers 
when  he  was  taken  up  at  lioston,  and  the  box  was  delivered  to  the  commissioners  who  were 
appointed  to  secure  his  treasures.— See  appendix. 


69 


a  few  scatterings  ones,  at  different  places  on  the  south  side 
of  the  island.* 

Of  the  state  of  Society  among  the  Indians. 

Tlie  Indians  on  Long  Island  raised  corn  and  vegetables, 
and  these  with  tlie  deer,  wild  fowl,  and  various  kinds  of 
shell  fish  and  other  fish  that  abounded  on  the  Island,  must 
have  afforded  them  easy  and  ample  means  of  subsistence ; 
yet  notwitiistanding  these  advantages,  they  still  continued 
in  the  hunter  state,  and  had  made  no  advances  in  the  arts, 
which  are  usually  first  cultivated  in  the  infancy  of  society. 
They  were  not  distinguislied  by  their  dwellings,  their  cloth- 
ing, their  domestic  utensils,  or  weapons  of  war,  from  the  na- 
tives of  the  interior. 

Except  their  canoes,  of  which  those  that  belonged  to  the 
chiefs,  were  very  large,  and  their  arrow  heads,  which  were 
curiously  wrought  out  of  the  hardest  stone,  the  only  mate- 
rials of  art  among  them,  seem  to  have  been  some  rude  ves- 
sels of  earth  hardened  in  the  fire,  and  these  are  sometimes 
found  in  their  shell  banks. 

The  Indians  on  Long  Island  seem  to  have  abounded  in 
wampum,  the  Indian  substitute  for  money.  It  was  made 
out  of  the  shells  of  different  species  of  shell  fish,  of  the  size 
of  beads,  and  perforated  like  theni.  The  beads  were  black 
or  blue,  and  white,  and  the  black  were  double  the  value  of 
the  wliite,  and  this  fact  clearly  shews  that  some  standard  of 
value  is  essential  to  social  intercourse  in  the  rudest  state  of 
society.f 

The  Dutch  and  English  both,  either  from  necessity  or  con- 
venience, resorted  to  the  use  of  this  Indian  money,  and  the 
value  of  it  was  fixed  either  by  law  or  custom.  In  the  early 
stages  of  the  settlements,  three  black  beads  or  six  white  ones 
passed  for  a  penny. 

Belts  made  of  wampum  were  exchanged  at  the  treaties 
between  different  tribes,  as  symbols  to  perpetuate  the  me- 
mory of  the  transaction. 

The  same  causes  that  diminished  the  numbers  and  pre- 

*  At  the  first  settlement  of  the  island,  the  Montauks  were  considerably  numerous;  their  num- 
bers were  diminished  by  their  war  with  Ninnigrate,  in  1(555,  and  by  emigration  from  time  to 
time  to  the  Indian  settlements  on  the  main  shore.  In  1761  they  amounted  to  thirty-eight  fami- 
lies, and  to  11)2  souls;  subsequent  to  that  time,  the  tribe  was  still  further  reduced  by  the  emi- 
gration of  a  number  with  Sampson  Occum  and  other  Indians  to  Brothertown,  in  1736.  They  do 
not  at  present  exceed  half  a  dozen  families,  nor  amoimt  to  more  than  thirty  souls. 

t  The  Indians  upon  Long-Island  seem  to  have  abounded  in  this  article.  Winthrop  in  his 
journal  states,  that  Massachusetts  in  1634,  sent  the  bark  Blessing,  which  appears  to  have  been 
the  first  vessel  that  was  built  in  that  colimy,  to  Long-Island  ;  and  that  the  Indians  there  had 
"  store  of  the  best  wampum,  white  and  blue,  and  canoes  that  would  carry  80  men." 


70 


vented  tlie  increase  of  the  Indians,  eontrihuted  to  retard 
tlieir  progress  in  iuiprovenient  and  ei\  ilization. 

The  religious  notions  of  tlie  Long-lshmd  Indians,  are  pre- 
served in  a  communication  of  Sampson  Occum,  an  Indian 
minister,  Avhich  is  ]Hiblislied  among  the  collections  of -the 
historical  society  of  ^Ia--aclnHctts. 

Thev  had  a  plurality  ot'  {;.m1>,  but  believed  in  one  great 
and  good  being,  who  had  the  control  over  all  the  rest.  They 
believed  in  an  evil  spirit,  and  had  their  conjurors  or  pawaws. 
They  believed  in  a  future  state  of  existence,  aiul  that  tliere 
wouhl  be  a  (li>tiiictiun  accoi-diiiL;-  tu  llicir  lu'liavior  here. 

They  niailc  -.-iiTi lii-c~  1m  i  hr i r  < U.  uihI  pcrfornu'd  such 
other  acts  of  worship,  a>  arc  (•(uuiuuii  anitnig  the  Indians  in 
general. 

Their  conjurors  were  said  to  liave  intercourse  with  the 
evils])irit.  and  l)y  the  DukcV  laws  of  ItiOr).  it  was  enacted 
"that  no  Indian  >houl(l  l>c  >uti'crcd  to  pawaw  oi-  jierform 
Avorshij)  to  the  dc\  il  in  any  town  within  the  government.'" 

The  language  of  the  Montauk  I  iidiaii<  i>  su[)posed  to  have 
been  the  common  laiiuiia-c  of  all  the  Long-Island  Indians, 
and  ditfered  but  little  from  tliat  of  the  Narraganset,  the  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  other  New -I  ji^laiiil  triltes.f 

-•.1  tliat  tl„T..  urn-  unl 


t  It 
north  1 
of  Nc' 
diUeri' 


gether,  s(i  as  to  m 

These  languiiL'- 
junctions  and  a  i 
expression,  anil  i 

The  followint;  ] 
Esq.,  deceased,  who  took  tin 


men  of  the  language  that  could  be  obtained  : 


H  I)  original  Indian  languages  in  the  United  States, 
tlie  Iroiiuois.  The  languages  of  the  different  tribes 
tribes  from  the  Mississippi  to  Nova  Scotia,  are  only 

ilift'ereiit  from  that  of  all  known  languages,  ancient  or 
hi'  resiH-o.  between  tho>e  that  are  radically  distinct. 
i\e  \  i  and  have  no  distinetion  of  genders.  The 
n  male  anil  female,  but  between  animate  and  inani- 
blend  several  words  to- 


nly  pronouns  but  adjectives,  con- 
■n.luce  a  great  variety  of  forms  of 


useript  of  the  late  John  Lyon  flardiner, 
I  the  lips  of  the  Montauk  Chief,  and  is  the  only  speci- 


Massakeat  mund 

Machees  cund 

Saunchem 

Seaunskq 

Wonnux 

Wonnuxk 

Inchun 

■\Vewauchum 

Mausqueseets 

Ausgoote 

Quauhaug 

Suxawaug 

Tobaugsk 

Cheaganan 

Kiep 

Eeagh  or  eage 

Mashuee 

Mahaweeskt 

Tunks  quash 

Squashees 

Weenai 


great  good  spirit 

evil  spirit 

king 

queen 

whiteman 

white  woman 

an  Indian 

Indian  com 

beans 

pumpkins 

a  round  clam 

a  long  clam 

tobacco 

a  hatchet 

water 

land 


mucquit 

nceze 

nisk 

yuaw 

nepaw 

conma 

nusus 

swans 

passecucond 

pyunck 

ehee.«k 

chiauk 

weegan 

muttadeaio 

wedaums 

cut  daus 

seaunip 

yeokeheag 


two 
four 


eight 
Dine 


ten 

small 

large 

bad 

roast  corn 
boiled  corn 
pounded  corn 
roast  corn  pounded 


71 


Of  the  measures  adopted  to  preserve  peace  with  the  Indians. 

The  Indians  on  Long-Island  seem  to  liave  been  less  trou- 
blesome to  tlie  whites  than  those  north  of  the  sound. 

It  does  not  appear  that  they  ever  formed  any  general 
combination  against  the  first  settlers,  or  materially  inter- 
rupted the  progress  of  their  improvements.  The  records  of 
that  period,  furnish  no  account  of  any  general  war  against 
the  Long-Island  Indians,  by  the  Dutch  or  English. 

There  is  no  reason  to  believe  that  this  exemption  from 
Indian  hostilities  was  owing  to  a  better  disposition  or  milder 
character  of  the  natives  of  the  Island.  Individuals  and 
small  parties  were  sometimes  troublesome  to  the  settlers. 

In  1649,  a  murder  was  perpetrated  at  South  Hampton, 
and  the  town  was  greatly  alarmed  at  the  hostile  appearance 
of  the  Indians  for  several  days,  and  several  murders  were 
C(jmmitted  in  the  Dutch  towns  in  1652. 

The  towns  were  frequently  jealous  of  them. 

In  1645,  the  town  of  South  Hampton  ordered  one  half 
of  their  military  company  to  bring  their  arms  to  meeting 
with  them  every  Lord's  Day  alternately  for  some  time. 

In  1651,  the  town  of  East  Hampton  ordered  the  inhabi- 
tants to  bring  their  arms  with  them  on  the  Lord's  Day, 
under  the  penalty  of  12d.  for  every  neglect,  and  other  towns 
are  said  to  have  done  the  like. 

The  Indians  sometimes  committed  depredations  on  the 
property  of  the  whites. 

In  1657,  they  did  considerable  damage  to  the  people  of 


Massakeat  Mund  suraana  Inshun  wewachum.— Great  spirit  give  Indian  corn. 

At  the  time  the' above  words  were  taken  down,  there  were  no  more  than  seven  persons 
among  them  wlio  could  speak  the  language,  and  it  may  now  be  considered  as  extinct. 

From  the  following  table  exhibiting  the  same  words  in  the  Massachusetts,  Narraganset  and 
Montauk  languages,  it  is  evident  that  they  are  all  kindred  languages,  and  that  the  three  last 
are,  with  very  little  variation,  the  same  dialect. 


Massachusetts 


Narraganset 

Nequit 

Neese 

Nisk 

Yoh 

Nepanua 

Qutta 

Enada 

Showsuck 

Paskugit 

Piuclc 

Sachem 

Saunks 

Ewachim 

Auke 


Montauk 

Nucquit 

Neese 

Nisk 

Tuaw 

Nepaw 

Couma 

Nusus 

Swans 

Passecucond 

Pyunck 

Saunchem 

Seaunskq 

Wewauchum 

Keagh  or  eagh 

Neip 

Mashuee 

Squashees 

Yunk  Squash 

Weenai 


one 
two 
three 
four 
five 
six 
seven 
eight 
nine 
ten 
king 


Nequit 
Neese 
Nisk 
Yau 


Nepanna 
Negutta 
Nesausuk 
Shw  suk 
Paskoogun 
Piuk 


queen 


land 
water 
C9noe 


Ohke 
Nippe 


Mishoon 
Squasese 


a  girl 
young  woman 
old  woman 


Nunksqau 


72 


Soutli  lTaiii[)ton,  and  in  16S1,  four  Indians  plundered  a  store 
in  Iliuitington,  and  threatened  tlie  lives  of  tlie  family.*  The 
first  settlers  in  every  part  of  the  Island,  were  in  the  ])rac- 
tice  of  guarding  their  cattle  f  which  run  at  large,  and  it 
might  have  been  to  prevent  the  depredations  of  the  Indians, 
as  well  as  to  guard  them  against  injuries  from  wild  beasts 
and  other  accidents. 

The  securit}'  of  the  whites  must  be  ascril)ed  to  the  means 
they  employed  to  pi'c-iTxc  \n-.u-r  with  the  Indians. 

The  English  and  Diitcli  1m, th  eii(lc;i\(irrd  t<>  secure  unin- 
terrupted peace  with  the  Indians  by  treaty. 

The  reception  of  the  Indians  on  tlicca>t  end  of  the  Island, 
mider  the  protection  of  the  Connnissionei's  of  tlie  United 
colonies  in  16J4,  and  their  snbsequnit  api)( lintiiiont  uf  the 
Montauk  chief  grand  sachem  of  the  Ldug-lsland  Indians, 
]uust  have  augmented  the  iiiHueiirc  wbicli  lie  Ix'tni-c  ]im~-(_'.-s- 
ed  over  more  or  Ir—  ,<]'  the  Indian  tribes  (Hi  tlir  I-I.-hmI.  and 
must  have  enableil  and  di>p(ised  him  to  curb  any  diVp(i>ition 
manifested  by  them  to  annoy  or  intrrrupt  the  whites. 

In  1643,  the  year  before  the  Dutch  war  M  irh  the  Indians 
north  of  the  sound,  the  Dutch  Governor  made  a  treaty  with 
Pennowits,  sachem,  as  is  supposed,  of  the  Matinecock  In- 
dians. 

In  1G56,  the  Dutch  Governor  made  a  treaty  witli  Tacka- 
pausha.  the  sachem  of  the  Marsapeague  Indians,  and  the 
rcpre-ciitati VI'  of  five  other  tribes. 

TliM-  the  Dutch  on  the  west  end,  and  the  English  on  the 
ea-t  end  (.>f  the  Island,  maintained  a  constant  friendship 
with  the  natives  in  their  respective  neiglibdrlioiMU.  Mud 
\\  hile  they  were  friendly  Avith  each  other,  the  Indian>  tVom 
one  end  of  the  Island  to  the  other  were  friendly  with  both.:J; 

•  In  1657,  the  Montauks  committed  depredations,  and  burnt  a  number  of  houses  at  South 
Hampton,  and  the  people  were  obliged  to  betake  themselves  to  their  arms  and  stand  on  their 
own  defence.  Captain  Mason  crossed  the  Sound  to  cjuell  the  disturljunce,  and  imiioseil  a  fine 
of  £700  on  the  Indiana  as  a  remuneration  for  the  damages,  and  as  a  i>unishment  for  the  aggres- 
sitm. 

The  chief  sent  a  messenger  to  the  Commissioners,  and  alledged  that  the  damige  was  occa- 
sioned by  a  mischieTous  Indian,  who  had  since  destroyed  himself  and  a  negro  woman,  and 
jirayed  that  he  might  be  relieved  from  the  fine,  which  was  referred  to  the  general  court  of  Con- 
necticut. 

t  In  .I.>!:nsrm'^  "  Wonder  Workinf.'  Prnvidence,"  it  is  stated  that  when  the  English  first  com- 
mencf'l  ■'  m,  ,,.,  i,  hiiI    "  the  Indians  did  much  annoy  their  cattle  with  the 

■ualtiiii  :    !      :  ,  1 1  liy  were  young  wolves  brought  up  tame,  continuing 

of  a  \  i 

^Voh  i  I  In  file  account  of  the  committee  con-isting  of  a 

commis>ii  :,t  i  !;  i   ,  .-;,!,  -  'ii..  .'xprnsL'S  of  the  county  of  Sufli.lk  N.i\  rniln-r  HI, 

10S5,  the  item  I  '  -    1, 1 1|.  .  i  ,i  -  i        s    hi  Kiist  llani]ilnii  1''  s-uili  II  uriit.in 

3,  South  Old  1,  I.-  I  "HI.     aii.l  ill  linntiiigtun  1ft;  lii  all  H:  »..m.,j  ;ii„I  oW 

killed,  during  ih 

+  Considerable  exertions  were  very  early  made  to  instruct  the  Long-Island  Indians,  particu- 
la/ly  those  of  the  Montauk  tribe,  in  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion. 


73 


Bcitli  the  En<ylisli  and  the  Dutch  on  Long-Ishind,  respect- 
ed the  rights  of  the  Indians,  and  no  hand  was  taken  up  by 
the  several  towns,  or  by  individuals,  nntil  it  had  been  fairly 
purchased  of  the  chiefs  of  the  tribe  who  claimed  it. 

The  consideration  given  for  the  land  was  inconsideraljle 
in  value,  and  usually  consisted  of  different  articles  of  cloth- 
ing, implements  of  hunting  and  fishing,  domestic  utensils, 
anXl  personal  ornaments  ;  but  appears  to  have  been  such  in 
all  cases  as  was  deemed  satisfactory  by  the  Indians.* 

It  13  supposed  some  efforts  to  this  effect  were  made  by  the  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson,  during  the 
three  or  four  years  he  continued  at  South  Hampton. 

Mr.  James,  the  first  minister  of  East  Hampton,  was  the  first  who  was  regularly  employed  in 
this  business.  Mr.  James  was  employed  by  Commissioners  of  the  society  for  propagating  the 
Gospel  in  New-England,  for  several  years,  to  instruct  the  Indians  on  the  Island, 

In  1741,  the  Commissioners  of  the  same  society  employed  Azariah  Horton  as  a  missionary 
among  the  Long-Island  Indians ;  and  under  his  labours  there  was  a  great  reformation  among 
them.  They  then  renounced  their  idols,  and  '-in  the  course  of  two  or  three  years  it  is  said 
that  he  baptized  thirty-five  adults  and  forty-five  children ;  religion  however  afterwards  declined 
among  them,  and  the  mission  was  given  up  in  175-i." 

In  1755,  or  thereabouts,  Sampson  Occum,  an  Indian  of  the  Mohegan  tribe  in  Connecticut, 
was  employed  to  keep  a  school  among  them,  and  afterwards  to  instruct  them  in  religion  till 
1761. 

No  other  missionary  was  regularly  employed  among  these  Indians  until  about  ISOO,  when  Paul 
CuEfee,  a  Long-Island  Indian,  was  employed  as  a  religious  instructor  among  them  by  the  mis- 
sionary society  of  New- York.  Paul  continued  his  labours  among  them  till  his  death.  He  died 
March  7th,  IS  1 2,  aged  55  years. 

Sampson  Occum  was  born  in  17-23,  was  educated  by  Mr.  Wheelock  of  Lebanon  and  Mr. 
Pomeroy  of  Hebron.  A  weakness  in  his  eyes  prevented  his  going  to  coll.ge  ;  about  1765,  he 
went  to  Montauk  and  established  a  school  among  the  Indians.  In  the  Spring  of  175S,  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  by  the  Association  of  Windham  county,  Connecticut,  and  on  the  i^.lh  August 
1759,  he  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  by  the  Presbytery  of  Suffolk  county,  with  a  view  to  senl 
him  as  a  missionary  among  the  southern  Indians.  This  plan  being  defeated  by  a  war  between 
the  whites  and  the  Cherokees,  he  remained  the  most  of  his  time  between  his  ordination  and  the 
Spring  of  1761  with  the  Montauks.  He  then  engaged  in  a  mission  to  the  Oneidas,  and  contin- 
ued with  them  until  1765,  when  he  accomi)anied  Mr.  Whittakef  to  Europe  to  solicit  funds  for 
the  Indian  charity  school.  They  remained  there  two  or  three  years,  and  collected  upwards 
of  +5000  for  that  charity  in  England  and  Scotland. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Buell  gives  his  character  as  a  preacher,  in  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  David  Bost- 
wick,  of  New-York,  dated  May  9th,  1761,  he  says :  "  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  he  seems  al- 
ways t  J  have  in  view  the  end  of  the  ministry,  the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  men; 
his'manuer  of  expression  when  he  preaches  to  the  Indians  is  vastly  more  natural  and  free,  clear 
and  eloquent,  quick  and  powerful  than  when  he  preaches  to  others.  He  is  the  glory  of  the  In- 
dian nation."  It  is  added  by  another  hand,  that  '•  while  in  England  he  was  an  object  of  much 
attention  ,  he  preached  in  the  crowded  chapels  ol  London,  and  even  occupied  the  pulpit  of 
Whitfield  with  acceptance." 

In  March  176S,he  returned  and  resumed  his  missionary  labors  among  the  Indians  in  Con- 
necticut, and  in  17S6  he  removed  with  the  Indians  under  his  care,  consisting  of  the  Mohegans 
and  the  remnants  of  some  other  tribes,  to  Oneida,  in  the  Stale  of  New- York,  and  settled  on  a 
tract  of  land  given  them  by  the  Oneida  tribe  for  that  purjiose,  which  from  the  union  of  differ- 
ent tribes  that  formed  the  setilement,  they  called  Brothertown. 

Mr.  Occum  continued  in  the  charge  of  the  Brothertown  Indians  until  within  a  few  years  of 
his  death.    He  died  at  New  Stockbridge  in  Oneida  county,  in  July  1792,  aged  69  years. 

*  The  first  purchase  of  Huntington  in  165.3,  comprized  nearly  six  miles  square ;  the  con.sid- 
eration  paid  to  the  Indians,  consisted  of  six  coats,  si.t  bottles,  six  hatchets,  six  shovels,  ten 
knives,  six  fathom  wampum,  thirty  muxes  and  thirty  needles. 

The  first  purchase  of  East  Hampton,  embraced  about  30:20  acres,  and  the  articles  given  in 
payment  consisied  of  twenty  coats,  twenty-four  looking  glasses,  twenty-four  hoes,  twenty-four 
hatchets,  twenty-four  knives  and  one  hundred  muxes. 

The  first  purchase  of  Oysterbay,  embraced  upwards  of  20000  acres,  for  which  the  first  pur- 
chasers gave  six  Indian  coats,  six  kettles,  six  fathom  of  wampum,  six  hoes,  six  hatchets,  three 
pair  stockings,  thirty  awl  blades  or  muxes,  twenty  knives,  thre  e  shu-ts,  peague  £i  sterling. 

The  decrease  of  the  Indians  is  sometimes  represented  as  if  the  whites  were  blameable  for 
purchasing  their  lands.  The  decay  of  their  numbers  is  a  consequence  of  the  settlement  of  the 
country  by  an  agricultural  people — the  improvement  of  the  country  must  diminish  the  game, 
lessen  the  means  of  their  support,  and  drive  them  into  the  interior  with  the  wild  beasts  that 
furnish  their  sustenance,  while  they  retain  the  character  of  hunters.  Providence  certainly 
never  designed  that  the  earth  should  be  kept  desolate  by  erratic  nations,  but  should  be  so  used 
as  to  afford  support  to  the  greatest  number  of  human  beings. 


74 


Botli  ]iowers  endeavored  to  ]>i-o\  ciit  tlie  evils  wliicli  usually 
result  I'roin  the  use  of  sjiirit  mm-  >  l)y  the  ludiaus. 

The  Dutch  (iovernor  in  1(14;),  and  the  English  Ciuveruor 
in  16(!r),  prohibited  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  to  theui. 

In  1{k)G,  the  town  of  Jamaiea  iin]iosed  a  tine  of  80  guild- 
ers on  any  one  -who  should  sell  sti'ong  drink  to  an  lndi;in. 

The  number  and  character  uf  tlif  liMlian--  nn.Kiid  it  prn- 
dent  for  the  first  settlers  to  guard  again^t  ^ul■jlri^^•.  and  t(j  be 
prepared  to  resist  any  attack  by  them.  The  several  towns 
required  every  man  t^  liirni>h  himself  with  arms  and  am- 
munition, and  to  assemble  at  an  apointcil  placr  in  case  of 
an  alarm.  In  some  of  the  EngH-h  tnwn-  a  Mmc!.;  house  or 
small  fort  was  erected  as  a  place  ni  r-ccni'ily  in  t  inn-  .if  danger. 

The  people  of  <  ii-ax c-cn,!,  in  the  inlaney  of  their  settle- 
ment, inclosed  tlicir  \il!agc  w  ith  pali-adoes. 

The  Dutch  Governor  in  ii»i5,  and  the  English  Governor 
in  1005,  forbid  the  sale  of  arms  and  ammunition  to  the  In- 
dians. 

In  IGJrl,  the  town  of  South  Hampton  resolved  that  it'  any 
one  should  sell  any  warlike  imjdements  to  the  lndian>,  he 
should  forfeit  his  whole  persoiud  effects.  In  Id.jH,  thctuwn 
of  East  Hampton  resolved  that  \vhM>.u'ver  >li(nild  >v\\  pow- 
der, lead  or  shot,  sword  or  llint  to  any  Indian,  he  shonhl  be 
liable  to  the  penalty  of  20s.,  and  if  any  one  should  sell  a 
gim  or  pistol  to  one,  he  should  pay  £'10. 

It  may  have  been  partly  in  cdnMNjUL-nce  of  the  doti'ue- 
tion  of  their  warriors,  in  tlicir  recent  ^var^.  and  .it  tlieir 
military  spirit  being  broken  by  their  >nbjectiiin  t.>  >nc<-e->ive 
con([uerors  ;  but  it  was  principally  by  cultivating  l  he  tViend- 
ship  of  the  chiefs,  and  i)articii]arly  of  the  graml  >aciicni  of 
the  w  hole.  Iiy  respecting  tlieir  riglit>an(l  treating  them  w  ith 
uniform  justice  and  kin(hi(>>.  by  prewnting  excitement  by 
artiticial  meaiif-,  and  Ijv  reinlering  success  hopeless  by  with- 
holding the  means  necessary  to  insure  it,  that  the  whites 


Thu  I  .      i  .   ,•:  i-,         ;,.T,r;i  Uir  IiHliaiis  within  tlie 

limits  :  ,  i:  rulers,  to 

make  ■  i   .     .  .    :         ,    .  .i  to  our  laws, 

and  ar.-  '  ...-'i.;..  ,i ...  i,.    1 1      ,ii -iii.n  .  .i  i..  I'.iaiii  their  iiule- 

dendeii.e,  .-ul  h,  our  j.i  ...icchon  .lud  cunirol,  ?o  lur  <>t„\  .i>  ihiir  c.un  wellare  and  the  pub- 
lic safety  require. 

The  government  concedes  to  them  the  right  of  occiii.aii^ 
ultimate  domain.  It  Mifl.  is  no  advantai-'t'  tc.  taken  m  il 
Viduals,  liv  the  h-.iii.l  .  I   i  ■  .1 1  .u  r      n  rii  i/,  n- 

_An  Iniiian  !.  M  ,  ,  .,,,,]  raimut  be  sol.l  by  inilividuals.  The 

alienaii'.ii  I.I  tl).  ,  ■  ,;,  ,,,|  .      ,i..n,- h\  treat\'.  The  extinguislanent 

of  Indian  dam.-  n   ..n.i  1..  imrehase  made  l.v  an  unauthorized 


iudivi.lua 


•  .1  '  ua-aii\  pun  lia.-.' eler  considered  a.s  legal  from  the  firstsettle- 
t  of  the  country,  wl.ieh  wasm  de  without  authority,  uutil  it  was  confirmed  by  patent  or 
!  other  act  of  government. 


75 


were  exempted  from  any  hostile  combinations  of  the  Long- 
Island  Indians. 

In  1655,  a  large  body  of  Indians  consisting  of  500  and 
upwards,  from  Jersey  and  the  north  river,  landed  at  New- 
Amsterdam,  where  they  were  provoked  into  hostilities  and 
did  much  injury.  They  then  went  to  Staten-Islaiid  and 
committed  gi-eat  havoc  there,  and  a  party  of  tliem  passed 
over  to  Long-Island  and  threatened  Graveseiid,  but  retired 
witliout  doing  much  injury.  Tlie  fortifications  of  New- Am- 
sterdam, and  of  the  villages  in  its  vicinity,  by  enclosures  of 
pallisadoes,  was  to  secure  them  against  the  same  Indians, 
wlio  troni  li'Ao  to  1663  committed  many  acts  of  hostility  on 
the  Dutch  settlements.* 

That  none  of  the  Long-Island  Indians  were  concerned  in 
these  depredations  is  evident  from  the  admission  in  the  Dutch 
records,  that  tliose  Indians  had  originally  no  hostile  designs 
against  that  ])lace,  Imt  were  then  on  their  route  to  the  east 
end  of  Long-Island  to  make  war  on  the  Indians  there. 

This  belief  is  corroborated  by  the  fact,  that  in  the  treaty 
made  at  Hempstead,  March  12th,  1656,  with  Tacapausha, 
the  Governor  stipulated  not  to  make  ])eace  with  tliose  In- 
dians who  did  the  damage  at  ^[aiiliattau  in  Sejiteinber  1655, 
without  including  them,  for  which  no  other  reason  can  be 
given  than  that  they  were  the  enemies  of  the  Long-Island 
Indians. 

Of  ihe  Buttle  at  Fort  Ned-. 

The  only  rencounter  of  any  importance  between  the  whites 
and  the  Indians  on  Long-Island,  of  which  we  have  any  ac- 

*  The  statement,  in  the  text  is  supported  by  the  authority  of  the  Dutch  records.  August  1640 
several  planters  were  massacred  by  them  at  Staten  Island;  1613  the  Governor  ordered  an 
attack  on  the  savages. 

February 'ieth,  I&4.3,  the  Governor  complained  of  the  insolence  of  the  savages  for  two  or 
three  years  past— that  they  came  in  droves  of  50  in  sight  of  the  fort— that  they  had  taken  horses, 
cows,  hogs  and  geese,  and  had  murdered  seven  persons  and  refused  to  give  up  tlie  murderers, 
and  ordered  preparations  for  an  attack. 

In  1644,  a  general  war  was  commenced  with  the  savages  north  of  the  Sound  and  west  of  the 
Connecticut  settlements,  which  lasted  till  the  summer  of  1646,  and  was  terminated  by  a  great 
battle  at  Strickland's  plain,  in  llorseneck,  in  which  the  Dutch  with  difficulty  obtained  the 
victory. 

September  5th,  1655,  a  body  of  Indians  landed  near  the  fort  of  New  .\msterdam  in  04 
canoes,  consisting  of  more  than  5  >o  warriors,  on  an  expedition  against  the  Indians  on  the  East 
end  of  Long-Island.  Some  of  them  broke  into  an  house  which  provoked  an  artray.  The 
Indians  were  attacked  by  a  detachment  from  the  fort,  and  compelled  to  embark,  but  they 
continued  in  the  neighborhood  three  days,  killed  tifty  persons  and  took  one  hundred  prisoners, 
burnt  forty-eight  houses  and  destroyed  cattle  and  did  much  damage.  They  then  landed  on 
Staten-Island,  massacred  sixty -seven  persons,  crossed  the  Narrows  and  surrounded  Graves- 
end,  which  was  relieved  by  aid  from  the  city. 

February  7th,  101)0,  the  Governor  states  that  during  his  administration  of  twelve  years, 
upwards  of  twenty  persons  had  been  killed  by  the  Indians. 

January  7th,  166:J,  the  Governor  complains  that  the  Indians  had  killed  eighteen  persons  and 
taken  ten  prisoners  within  a  short  time  before  that  date,  and  had  burnt  and  destroyed  houses 
and  other  property. 

June  7th,  1663,  the  Indians  attacked  Esopus,  burnt  part  of  the  town,  killed  and  wounded  a 
number  of  the  inhabitants,  and  took  many  of  them  prisoners. 

25 


76 


count  from  In'storv  or  tradition,  is  one  that  took  place  at 
Fort  Xeck,  on  the  snuth  side,  in  ( )  vstrrbay,  wliicli  seems  to 
have  l)een  tlie  in'iiicipal  seat  of  the  Marsapeague  Indiaiis. 

Tlie  WAV  ill  l-Jirope,  between  the  JJutcli  and  English, 
which  continurd  iVoiii  1652  to  1654,  had  an  influence  upon 
their  respective  (colonists. 

In  the  spring  of  1653,  it  was  believed  that  the  Dutch 
government  contemplated  the  expulsion  of  the  English  from 
the  territories  which  they  claimed,  extending  from  the  Del- 
aware to  Connecticut  river,  including  the  whole  of  Long- 
Island. 

A  Dutch  fleet  was  expected  from  Europe,  and  the  Dutch 
governor  was  suspected  of  tampering  with  the  Indians,  to 
procure  their  co-operation. 

The  Indians,  in  many  places,  suddenly  began  to  manifest 
a  h(i>t  lie  cai-rinu'c  towards  the  EiiL^-lisli.  Sevci-al  cliicf-  on 
Lon-'-Maii'l  M'lit  a  iiic»ciiu'ri'  to '  1 1  arl  fo.'d.  to  iiKonii  the 
Engli>li  that  they  had  lieeii  oll'crc(l  mni>,  swords,  aiiiiiiiiiii- 
tion  and  clothing,  by  the  Dutdi  tiscai.  or  treasure)',  it  they 
would  join  them  to  destroy  tlu'  I']ii^li>h.  It  seeiii>  al>othat 
great  efforts  were  made  ami  in  -omc  ca-o  with  >iirc('--..  \o 
induce  them  to  reiiouiicr  t  hrir  -  rand  sacht'iu  the  Moiilaul< 
chief,  who  was  the  iiii wavei'iiig  tVieiid  of  the  Kiiu'li>h.'"' 

('aplaiii  .ImIiii  I  'iidi^rliill,  who  had  the  iii-iiici|ial  coiiiinand 
in  the  ivcriit  war  of  the  Dutch  with  the  Imliaii..  and  liad 
rendered  them  e»eiitial  service,  had  settled  at  hhi>hin;i-.  ami 
observed  the  change  in  the  di>po>itioii  of  the  Indian-.  He 
obtained  from  them  the  secret  of  the  Dutch  machin;itions 
to  enlist  the  Iiidian>  aualn>t  the  Knglish,  and  communicated 
the  fact>  to  the  coinnii->ioiiers  of  the  united  colonies. 

In  con-e(jUcnce  of  the  disclosure  of  the  intrigues  of  the 
Dutch  trca-iircr  with  the  Indians,  by  Ca})tain  rnderhill.he 
was  seizt'd  at  |-'hi~hin--  hy  a  guard  of  soldiers,  and  cari'ied 
to  New-xViii-lcnlain.  and  ct m liiie(l  until  the  ca>e  wa^  I'xam- 
ined,  wdien  the  tad-  i-cpoi-tcil  h\  him  were  proved  oy  the 
testimony  of  the  Indians,  to  be  true.    He  was  then  coolly 

•  The  Piitrh  Cnvprnor  cietiifil  the  existence  of  any  such  plan,  or  of  any  concert  with  the 
Indiati-i;   •.:,■]  [.iii  |„isons  should  be  sent  to  examine  into  facU.    Three  persons 

were  -i  I               !  ,1  ;  h.-  appointed  three  to  act  with  them.    The  English  commis- 

sioner- ',  ■  1  .,  ,1  I >  (if  tlie  Dutch  commissioners,  nor  with  the  manner  in  which 
the  (...V .  I  .  !  .  i  :  i,,  :  Mil Miiv  ti.  he  t:ikcii.  anil  returned  without  accomplishing  tlie 
object  111   I  i  .ii,     111  ir  ^i|-|iirii.iis  iliniirii-li'-il. 

That  .,.  '    I  |.      .>  ..  1          I     ,.  ■.•..,1.  1       ..  !   ...  I.  :  .•  I  land  at  the  time,  nor  can  the 

chan.-i'iii'l     ',,,1,,;,,,:        i;,;  ,   _    ,,!.,,     ,!         r  rniuiicititioii  of  the  aiilhurity  of 

IJie  .M'.M  i  ••  !,•.«:,.  .,  «,„.„      .,  ,  ,  :  u...  i-v  accounted  for  in  any  other  way. 

Tlie  Duljii  i.im  iiiiii-  II, a\  liaM;  Iillii  i-ii,,raiit  (.f  the  iiitriKUes  of  the  liscal  with  "the  Indians, 
but  that  such  iatriguea  took  place  can  hardly  be  doubted  by  any  one  who  will  examine  the 
oridence. 


77 


dismissed,  and  tlie  treasurer  was  suffered  to  go  witliout  re- 
proof or  pniiisliuient, 

Tlie  Euglisli  towns  on  the  island,  as  well  as  those  which 
had  been  settled  under  the  Dutch  as  the  English,  vv'ere 
alarmed  for  their  safety. 

March  26tli,  1653,  the  town  of  East  Hampton  resolved 
that  no  person  should  sell  any  kind  of  provisions  to  the  In- 
dians, "  during  the  time  of  the  neighbors'  plantation  being 
in  this  posture." 

April  l.")tli,  tliey  ordered  "that  there  should  be  a  watch 
and  ward,  that  two  men  should  watch  every  night,  and  one 
to  ward  every  day." 

April  2'Itli,  tliey  resolved  "  that  no  Indian  should  come 
to  the  \<>\v\\  unless  on  special  occasion,  and  that  none  should 
come  :ii'me(l,  hecause  that  the  Dutch  have  hired  Indians 
oqii'nist  fjn:  Kinjlhli^  and  because  the  Indians  have  cast  off 
tiieir  >arlieni."' 

May  <Itli,  tliey  agreed  to  send  to  Connecticut  for  a  firkin 
of  pdwiler.  and  sh-ot  equivalent,  and  ordered  "that  every 
mall  <>u  any  alarm,  should  appear  forthwith  at  the  meeting- 
house, and  tluat  no  man  should  go  from  the  town  to  woi-k, 
or  stay  in  an(.>ther  town,  under  the  penalty  of  40s.  for  every 
day's  absence. 

April  l-tth,  1653,  the  town  of  South  Hampton  passed  a 
resolution,  "  that  every  male  between  16  and  60  should 
watch  ami  w  ard  a^-  (k  (-a^iou  is,  and  that  no  one  should  sell 
auv  ciirn  to  tlie  I pending  the  war  hetween  the  Emj- 

r,sl,  ,ind  Lndhln.r 

Julu'  Ifitli,  they  sent  a  messenger  to  Captain  John  Mason, 
at  tlie  mouth  of  Connec^ticut  river,  to  procure  a  stock  of 
ammunition. 

Captain  Undcrhill,'^  early  in  the  spring,  wrote  to  thecom- 

•  Captain  .Tolm  UmlerhiU  came  from  England  to  Massachusetts  soon  after  the  first  sett  lenient 
of  that  colony.  lie  hail  served  as  an  olflcer  in  the  British  forces,  in  the  low  countries,  in 
IrcUiiiil,  .uiil  at  Cadiz,  and  had  a  cora:iiand  in  the  war  with  the  Pequots  during  the  year  l(i3T. 
He  had  some  difficulty  with  the  church  at  Boston,  which  seems  to  have  been  adjusted  before 
he  left  that  part  of  the  country. 

After  the  termination  of  the  Pequot  war,  he  removed  to  Connecticut,  and  settled  at  Stam- 
ford. He  was  a  delegate  from  that  town  to  the  general  court  at  New-Haven,  in  1043,  and  was 
appointed  an  assistant  justice  there. 

During  that  year  he  was  sent  for  by  the  Dutch  governor,  to  take  a  command  in  the  war  in 
which  the  Dutch  were  then  engaged,  or  were  about  to  commence,  with  the  Indians  situated 
north  of  the  sound  and  west  of  the  Connecticut  settlements.  This  war  lasted  till  the  summer 
of  1040,  and  was  terminated  by  a  great  battle  at  St.-icltland's  Plain,  in  llorseneck,  in  which 
the  Dutch  with  ditflculty  obtained  the  victory. 

It  is  supposed  that  Captain  Underbill  ha  I  the  chief  command  under  the  Dutch  governor  in 
this  war.  and  it  is  stated  by  Trumbull,  in  his  history  of  Connecticut,  that  he  destroyed  three 
hundred  Indians  north  of  the  sound,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  on  Long-Island  who  had 
crossed  the  sound  in  order  to  ravage  and  destroy  the  Dutch  plantations  there.  After  the 
conclusion  of  the  w:ir,  he  settled  at  Flushing,  on  the  island.  He  discovered  and  disclosed  the 
intrigues  of  the  Dutch  fiscal  with  the  Indians,  in  order  to  detach  them  from  the  English,  and 
to  excite  them  to  hostilities  against  them  m  1053. 


78 


missioiiors  of  tlie  iinitod  colonies,  to  a])]n-ize  tliem  of  the  de- 
si<rii>;  of  the  Dutch,  of  tlicii- t!iiii]iei'inj;- witli  tlie  Indians,  and 
ot  the  danger  to  which  the  Enghsh  on  Loiig-Ishuid  were 
exposed. 

April  inth,  1G53,  the  coniinissioncrsof  the  united  colonies, 
at  a  s])ecial  meeting  at  Boston,  took  the  state  of  the  (■(Hiiitrv 
into  their  consideration,  and  six  nf  the  i  !i:lit  wi  ic  f^n-  em- 
barking in  the  national  quarrel  w  ith  tlie  I  )ut(  li.  liiit  were 
restrained  by  the  refusal  of  Massiicl:ii>ett>.  \\li(i>e  reiiiute- 
ness  from  the  scene  of  danger  rendered  liei'  iii>eu>ilile  t.ithe 
condition  of  hei' coinitrvmen  who  were  more  exposed  to  the 
incuisioii-  ot'  the  ciiciiiy. 

The  other  eohiiiie>  deemed  the  refusal  to  be  a  breach  of 
the  articles  of  their  union,  and  the  dispute  threatened  the 
dissolution  of  the  c<^>nfederac_v.  Massachusetts,  however, 
after  tlie  (lam^cr  was  passed,  and  she  coidd  doit  Avithout  the 
risk  of  rvpeii-c  ill  iiirii  or  money,  reliii(iiii>heil  hei'  eoii>truc- 
tion  of  the  article>  of  union,  and  thus  appeased  her  allies, 
whom  she,  on  more  than  one  occasion,  treated  with  the  like 
indignity. 

Captain  Cndei-hill  ]ii'oliably,  immediately  after  lie  found 
that  the  (•oiiimi>>ioiier.-.  were  <li\  i<h'(l  in  ojiiiiioii  ropeeting 
the  e\|MNli,.iii-y  of  eiiiliarkiiig  in  tlie  wai\  wrote  to  the  colony 
of  liln"lc-Ul;iii(|.  where  it  i>  sup})o>ed  that  sc.iiue  if  not  must 
of  the  oi'ii;  iiial  i]iliahitaiit>  of  Flushing,  and  also  some  <  if  the 
people  ot'  (  »\  Mci'i.ay,  had  iv^ided  x.ii'ie  time  hefoi'e  tlicir^et- 
tleiiieiit  ill  tiio-e  town-,  and  wlierethey  prohahly  had  frieiid:^, 
t(.>  inform  them  of  thr  (hmger  t(.(  which  they  were  ex]Mi>ed, 
and  to  solicit  some  a--i-tance  for  their  security.  In  conse- 
(pience  of  this  iiitoi  iiiat  idi.  it  seems  a  Mr.  Dyer,  with  a  few 
resolute  men,  voluntarily  went  to  Mushing  to  aid  them  in 
caseof  an  attack.  The  people  (,f  Khode-l>iand  had  I'eceived 
letters  from  the  council  of  ~tate  in  Knglaiul.  in  voting  them 
wdth  discretionary  jiowcr  in  I'elatioii  to  their  taking  part  in 
tlie  war  agamst  the  i)i;t<-h.  and  thev  came  to  tlie  roolutiou 

On  the  refusal  of  the  coin  )  •  i  ;  i],r  unituii  colonies  to  embiirk  in  the  war  then  sub- 
sisting between  England  II  ■  :  :ipi)lied  to  Uhode-Island,  which  colony  had  taken 
part  wiih  ilie  mother  conn'! 


or  OiicMi^  .  ..iHiU  . 
which  bus  reniainec 
ants  that  bears  his  i 


79 


so  far  to  embark  in  the  support  of  the  mother  country,  as 
to  issue  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal  against  the  Dutch 
commerce  on  the  high  seas. 

On  the  17th  of  May,  1653,  the  assembly  of  that  colony 
took  the  application  from  Long-Island  into  consideration, 
and  generously  agreed  to  afibrd  them  what  help  they  could, 
to  enable  them  to  defend  themselves  against  the  Dutch,  the 
enemies  of  the  commonwealth,  or  to  make  aggressions  on 
them  if  the  assembly  should  deem  it  necessary. 

They  also  granted  commissions  to  Captain  John  Fnderhill, 
William  Dyer,  and  Edward  Hall,  to  go  against  the  Dutch, 
or  any  enemies  of  the  commonwealth  of  England,  and  allow- 
ed them  to  take  twenty  volunteers  out  of  the  colony,  with 
certain  pieces  of  ordnance,  subject  to  such  orders  as  the  as- 
sembly should  prescribe. 

In  the  early  part  of  May,  the  town  of  Hempstead  sent 
Eichard  Gildersleve  and  Alexander  Rhodes,  and  IN'ewtown 
sent  Robert  Coe  and  Edward  Jessup  to  the  commissioners 
of  the  united  colonies,  to  apprise  them  of  the  danger  with 
which  they  were  threatened,  to  solicit  a  supply  of  arms  au'l 
ammunition,  with  the  aid  of  a  few  men,  or  an  officer  cap- 
able of  disciplining  their  own  militia. 

]\Iay  23(1,  Ca])tain  T^nderliill  wrote  again  to  the  commis- 
>inii(_'r>.  >tatcd  tliut  all  the  English  were  in  extreme  danger, 
that  ]if  had  >eiit  for  some  small  assistance  from  Rhode-Island 
to  preserve  things  in  safety,  and  informed  them  "  that  he 
had  put  his  life  in  his  hands  to  save  English  blood,"""  and 
urged  them  in  the  most  pressiiig  manner  to  act  with  vigor. 

The  application  was  again  rendered  inetfectual  by  the  ad- 
herence of  Massachusetts  to  her  resolution  to  decline  any  in- 
terference in  the  national  quarrel. 

The  English  towns  were  thus  compelled  to  rely  for  their 
securitv  upon  their  own  resources,  and  such  assistance  as 
they  had  received  from  the  disinterested  friendship  and 
patriotism  of  Rhode-Island. 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  Dutch  ever  made  any  attack 
upon  the  English  towns,  or  that  Captain  Underbill  and  his 
companions  were  under  any  necessity  of  repelling  any  as- 
saults of  the  Dutch. 

It  seems,  however,  that  the  Dutch  had  neglected  or  were 
unable  to  allay  the  hostile  temper  of  the  Indians,  which  they 
had  excited,  and  that  it  became  necessary  to  make  an  ex- 
ample of  such  as  were  most  forward  in  their  meditated  hos- 
tilities, in  order  to  subdue  the  refractory  spirit  that  prevailed 
among  them.  26 


80 


The  public  recurds  fiiriiisli  no  fiirtlier  llulit  on  the  >ul)ject, 
a!i(l  we  are  coiiipelled  to  resort  to  tradition  to  learn  tlie  re- 
t-idt  of  the  state  of  things  that  tlien  existed  in  relation  to 
tlie  English  and  Indians  on  I,(iii:^-I>hiiid. 

The  tradition  is  that  a  numlM  r  .^f  Indians,  wljo^e  inten- 
tions were  sui)i)osed  to  beho>tile  tn  the  English,  had  (•(dlect- 
ed  at  or  near  Marsapeaguc,  at  which  place  they  had  a  fort, 
ou  a  neck  called  from  that  ]»eri()d,  in  c(.ii-ideratl(iii  of  that 
circumstance,  FortXeck,  tlic  i-cuiains  nf  w  hich  arc  >till  verv 
distinct,  which  they  had  (•()ii>ti-iict(Ml  fur  their  di'fenci',  or 
which  had  been  ei'ected  uiimiihc  rnriiKM- ncca>i<in  for  the  like 
l)nrpose."  That  ( 'attain  . I. ihn  1 ' iidci-liill  led  a  party  against 
them,  attacked  ami  dr-trovcd  a  iiuihIht  ot'  them,  took  the 
fort,  and  kcjit  im'--c— ion  of  it  in  oi-ih-r  in  prcNciit  the  re- 
imion  of  thi'  I  miiaii.--.  to  watch  their  hk i\ ciiu'iit-,  and  to 
guard  the  Iji-li-h  x'ttlenients  agaiiL-t  their  iiiciir^ii iii>. 

April  It'ith'.  Ifa;:;.  tlie  Dutch '  gn\ci-ii(M'  cnmphiined  that 
(rovernor  "W iiit hrM|.  Iiad  imt.  according  \i<  agrcciiieut.  de- 
livered Fort  Solniiiiin,  (in  Lung-I>land  to         Dutch.     It  is 

1)resnmed  that  I'ort  Suhnndii  w  a>  tlu'  one  on  Fort  ^^eck. 
t  was  in  Oysterbay,  to  more  or  les>  of  w  hicli  the  I  )utc]i  laid 
claim,  and  was  the  only  fort  in  po~>e»ion  of  flic  !-jiuli>h 
within  the  territory  which  the  Dutch  pri'tcndcd  to  cUiini. 

It  is  impossible,  at  this  distance  of  time,  to  judge  of  the 
pro])riety  or  necessity  of  this  attack  upon  the  Indian>.  The 
measure  may  have  been  warranted  by  the  state  of  things  at 
the  time,  ami  may  have  saved  the  English  settlement^  from 
massacre  and  devastation. 

It  is  probable  that  these  Indians  had  been  gainei]  o\  cr  by 
the  intrigues  of  the  Dutch,  and  Inul  a.-seiiibie<l  in  order  to 
aid  them  in  their  ])rojected  enterpri/.e  against  the  Knglish, 
and  that  the  tran>action  took  ]ilace  in  the  >unimi'r  of  l(;."j:3. 

The  project  of  the  Dutch  miscari'ied  by  their  inability  to 
unite  the  Indians  in  the  scheme,  by  the  defeat  of  the  Dutch 
fleet  in  Europe,  and  by  the  subseijuent  peace. 

After  the  w  ar,  tin-  colonists  resumed  their  friendh  inda- 
tions,  but  the  iiiipi-e-^ions  made  on  the  mind-  of  the  l  j:_li-h. 
by  the  sanguinary  project  of  the  Dutch  go\ eninieiit.  were 
never  etiaced  but  by  the  con(|Ue>t.  in  Kltii. 

June  11th,  16()G,'  the  Engli>]i  ( iovernor  held  a  treaty  at 
Hempstead  with  Takapausha,  the  Mai  >apeague  saclu'm.  and 

•  Tlie  fort  is  situated  near  the  meadows,  about  the  ccntrt-  of  llje  nci-k.  Its  form  i-  .|UMilran- 
pular.  n-ith  an  opeiiir.g  of  about  iwelve  feet  wide  at  llie  south  east  anple.  The  .litcli  is  now 
three  feet  deep,  and  the  erabanknient  as  much  as  tliree  feet  above  llie  level  of  the  ailjoiniug 
plain.    It  probably  extends  about  ten  rods  one  way,  and  six  the  other. 


81 


otlier  tribes  wlio  had  proliaLIv  tlirowii  off  the  authority  of 
tlieir  i>Taud  saelieiu.  and  had  united  witli  tlie  Dutch  ;ii:ainst 
tlie  Enghsli,  l»_v  whicli  they  made  peace  -with  the  English 
and  submitted  to  their  government. 

"We  have  no  furtlier  account  of  any  difficulty  with  tlie 
Long-Island  Indians  tmtil  the  time  of  King  Pliilip's  war. 
This  was  the  most  destructive  Indian  war  in  which  the  Xew- 
England  colonies  had  ever  l»een  involved.  It  commenced 
in  June  1675,  and  lasted  till  August,  1076,  and  during  its 
continuance  was  attended  with  great  destruction  of  property 
and  the  loss  of  many  valuable  lives. 

Erom  the  proximity  of  Xarragansett  to  Montauk,  it  was 
ap[)rehended  that  the  Long-Island  Indians  might  be  seduced 
by  the  Xarragansetts  to  aid  them  in  their  Ik  utilities  against 
the  whites.  To  prevent  this  the  governor  of  Xew- York  de- 
termined to  cut  off  all  intercourse  between  them. 

December  13th,  1675, the  gdvenmr  ordered  all  the  canoes 
east  of  Hell-Gate  to  be  seized,  and  delivered  to  the  con- 
stables, to  be  laid  u[>  and  -cciirrd  within  three  days,  and  also 
ordered  that  all  such  can(ir>  a-  >li(Uild  be  found  in  the  sotmd 
after  that  time  should  be  destroyed. 

Thi>  nica>ure  ilrprived  the  Indians  of  the  means  of  cross- 
ing the  :^<_mnd.  and  effectually  prevented  their  lending  any 
a>:^istance  to  the  liu>tile  Indians. 

Since  that  period,  no  danger  seems  to  have  been  appre- 
hended from  the  Indians  on  Long-Island,  and  from  that  time 
they  have  gradually  diniiinMied  and  disappeared,  till  only  a 
few  families  are  left. 

Of  the  j)<)liticcd  condition  of  the  several  towns  in  the  Dxitcli 
Territor;/  on  Lon<j-Island. 

The  states  general  of  the  L^nited  Belgic  Provinces,  in 
tlicir  grant  to  the  Dutch  "West  India  company,  in  1621,  re- 
^(.'rvcd  til  themselves  the  power  of  commissioning  the  gov- 
ernor whom  they  should  a[>point. 

The  object  of  tbi>  I'c-ervation  was  to  connect  the  interests 
of  tlie  company  with  the  mother  country,  and  to  secure  the 
supreme  control  over  the  whole  empire. 

The  first  governor  mentioned  in  the  Dutch  records,  is 
"Wouter  Van  Twiller,  who  arrived  at  Xew-Amstei-dam,  n(jw 
Xew-York,  in  Jime,  1620. 

It  is  intimated  in  a  letter  of  Governor  Kieft,  that  Peter 
Minuit,  preceded  Van  Twiller,  and  very  probably  he  was 


82 


])rc('e(le(l  l)y  otliois,  oillicr  !i>  coininci'f-ial  or  political  supor- 
iiitoiuleilts  of  the  hiitdi  (-l:(lili>liiiuMiT^. 

William  Iviel't  Miccfcdrd  \  auTu  ilkT  in  March  1G;3S,  and 
lie  was  succeeded  by  I'eter  Stiiyvesant  in  May  16i7,  who 
continued  in  power  till  the  conquest  by  the  English,  in  1664. 

All  the  powers  of  a'overnment,  executive,  legislative,  and 
judicial,  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  were  vested  in  the  governor 
and  council. 

The  governor,  directly  or  indirectly.  appMintiMl  all  public 
officers,  framed  all  the  laws,  and  (Ifciilcd  all  iiii|Mirtant  con- 
troversies, heard  appeals  tVoiii  snbui-diiiatc  iiia-  i-t  I'atcs,  and 
required  tlicni  \<>  r-ciel  >urli  ca-i--  .-i-  wciv  licinlliiii-  before 

them,  to  tllr  (•..lllicil  tM  |,(.  dr. -i, led  a-  lie  tliMU-lit  lit. 

April  1-Jrli.  \r,r.n_  tlir  -w.  ,.i-,ior  ..rdrivd  tlu'  nm-I-t  i-atr>  of 
Rustdorpe,  I'T  I'l  l-rl'tTa  crrtain  call-t/ t  Ih.'M  [U'lliliug 

before  them.  t..  i  hr  rMuiM-il  t..  I.r  dflcriiiined. 

April  2tltli.  till'  iiiii-i-trair^  ut'  Middleburgh,  or  jSTew- 
Town,  were  ur(!ci-c(l  \n  do  tlic  ^auie. 

The  goveiMior  ordered  churelie^  to  l)e  built — lie  installed 
ministers,  and  directiMl  where  and  wlien  they  slioidd  preach, 
and  he  excluded  such  from  teaching,  whose  tenets  he  did 
not  approve. 

The  governor  hail  the  sole  prerogative  over  the  public 
lands.  The  Iiidiim  title  was  extinguished  by  him,  or  by  in- 
dividuals witli  lii-  (-"iisent. 

The  govcMMK ii- u r:inti'd  such  lands  as  had  been  ])urchased 
of  the  Indian-,  to  individuals  or  c(,iu]iaiiic.-  for  settlement. 
These  grants  were  generally,  if  not  nniforndy.  made  sub- 
ject to  a  reservation  or  ipiit-rent  of  one  tenth  of  the  pro- 
duce, to  become  pa_)"al)le  ten  years  after  the  date  of  the 
grant. 

From  the  complaints  of  the  delegates  who  met  in  1653,  to 
lay  their  gi-ievances  before  the  governor  and  council,  it  a])- 
pears  that  tlu'  governor  exerci-cd  lii>  jirerogative  in  a  capri- 
cious manner,  sometimes  rel'u>ing  lands  to  settlers,  and  at 
other  times  making  large  grants  to  favorites. 

Of  the  Dutch  Towns. 

It  appears  that  the  Dutch  towns  were  settled  by  the  cas- 
ual concurrence  of  individuals,  without  any  previous  regu- 
lations relative  t(i  tlicii- oi'ganization,  or  tlic  adiniiiistratii.)n 
of  justice  aup  111-  I  liciii.  N.jr  does  it  a[iprai-  tliat  tlicy  en- 
tered into  any  bond  ol' union  among  themselves  f<.ir  self-gov- 
ernment. 


83 


In  the  infancy  of  tlie  settlements,  the  governor  appointed 
magistrates  in  tlie  several  villages,  with  more  or  less  power 
as  he  judged  proper,  without  any  iiniformity  as  to  their 
number  or  title  of  oftiee. 

In  IGOO,  on  a  })etition  of  the  inhabitants  of  J^ew-Utreeht, 
the  governor  appointed  a  scout  or  constable,  a  secretary,  and 
an  assessor,  with  power  to  divide  the  land  that  was  held  in 
common,  by  lot  among  the  proprietors — to  see  that  tlie 
fields  were  fenced — to  open  a  common  street  through  the  vil- 
lage— -to  erect  a  block  house  in  the  centre,  with  a  mill  in  it, 
and  a  well  by  it,  at  the  common  expense,  and  to  decide  all 
difterences,  and  to  do  as  all  other  subaltern  village  courts 
are  accustomed  to  do. 

From  this  it  ajipcars  that  the  lirst  magistrates  in  the  sev- 
eral villages,  had  full  power  to  regulate  the  police,  and  pro- 
vide for  tlie  security  of  the  village. 

After  the  settlers  had  become  more  numerous,  and  the 
towns  were  enlarged,  they  were  permitted  to  choose  their 
own  magistrates,  subject  to  the  approbation  of  the  govern- 
or. It  would  also  seem  that  the  powers  of  the  magistrates 
were  then  enlarged,  but  were  not  defined  by  any  general 
law,  and  were  in  a  great  measure  discretionary. 

In  1(U8,  Brooklyn  was  permitted  to  choose  two  magis- 
ti  MtH-.  wlio  were  authorized  "  to  give  judgment  in  all  events 

tliev  -liould  deem  proper,  not  contrary  to  the  charter  of 
Ncw-Xctlierlaiid  and  to  give  complete  effect  to  their  nu- 
rliority.  tlic  governor  ordered  that  if  any  one  disobeyed  the 
(ieei>ioii  (  if  the  magistrates,  he  should  forfeit  his  right  to  the 
lands  within  the  village.'^ 

In  1661,  the  governor  enlarged  the  powers  of  the  magis- 
trates, or  rather  established  a  new  court  with  larger  and 
more  definite  powers  than  ho  had  before  granted.  The  magis- 
trates who  were  chosen  and  allowed  for  this  court,  were  au- 
thorized to  decide  all  controversies  between  master  and  ser- 
vant, master  and  apprentice,  buyer  and  seller,  landlord  and 
tenant,  and  also  to  take  cognizance  of  breaches  of  the  peace, 
and  other  misdemeanors. 

The  Dutch  courts  proceeded  according  to  the  rules  of  the 
civil  law,  which  was  the  Dutch  common  law. 

The  Dutch  towns  seem  to  have  been  governed  principally 
by  the  ordinances  of  police  enjoined  by  their  magis- 
trates. 

*Tliis  privilege  seems  not  to  have  been  extemleil  to  any  other  town,  from  which  it  is  presumed 
that  no  otner  town  was  at  that  time  so  populous  as  to  require  them. 

27 


84 


Of  the  Enylhli  tovms  \inderthe  Dutch. 


Tlie  English  who  settled  the  towns  of  Hempstead,  Graves- 
eud,  Flusliing,  Jamaica,  and  jSTewtown,  liecanie  Dutch  sub- 
jects, and  were  ])erniitted  to  hold  land,  ciijny  lilicrty  of  con- 
science, and  to  clioose  their  own  magistrates,  suhjcct  to  the 
approbation  of  tlie  governor. 

ITem})stead  and  Gravesend  were  incorporated  towns,  and 
were  authorized  to  choose  tlieir  own  magistrates,  who  were 
to  be  presented  to  the  governor  for  his  approbation,  and  also 
a  scout  and  clerk. 

The  magistrates  were  vested  with  power  to  hold  courts, 
civil  and  criminal,  with  a  limited  jurisdiction,  and  to  make 
ordinances  for  tlie  welfare  and  good  government  of  the 
towns  respectively. 

Flushing  was  also  partially  incorporated,  but  was  Ijy  its 
charter  only  authorized  to  elect  a  scout  or  cuiistaMe  with 
power  to  preservegood  order,  heal  differences,  and  rejxtrt  all 
cases  (if  impni't-ance  to  the  governor.  It  is  probable  that 
the  pr(i|.lc  (if  Flusliing  were  afterwards  indulged  with  the 
power  (if  cliMii.-ing  magistrates  like  the  other  towns. 

Jamaica  and  Newtown  were  permitted  to  choose  their 
own  magistrates,  sul)ject  to  the  confirmation  of  the  gover- 
nor. It  was  the  ])ractice  in  these,  if  not  in  all  the  English 
towns,  to  choose  ddu  ile  the  number  to  which  they  were  en- 
titled, out  of  which  the  governor  named  those  that  should 
serve. 

In  all  the  English  towns,  the  people  chose  a  certain  num- 
ber of  men,  whom  they  called  townsmen,  to  superintend  the 
civil  concern-  ot'  the  towns  for  which  they  were  elected. 
They  co-o]ierateil  with  the  magistrates  in  tlie  incorporated 
towns,  and  in  the  other  towns  made  all  such  regulations  as 
they  judged  beiiefieial  to  the  town  ;  (except  such  as  related 
to  the  adiiii-sioii  of  settlers,  and  the  granting  of  lands,) 
which  were  to  Ke  -iihiuittcd  to  the  people  in  town-meeting 
for  them  to  eonliriii  or  annid.'''' 

It  is  probable  the  courts  in  tlie  English  towns  for  some 
time  decided  without  a  jury  :  but  towards  the  latter  part 


*  The  power  of  the  to^ 
the  police  of  the  towns 
regulainl  tin-  time  wlu  n 

presi-i-51-  :     .     ,;,  -  i, , 


iI.mI  to 

-  iliev 
ii,  .aid 


85 


of  the  time  they  were  under  the  Dutch,  they  seem,  in  one 
town  at  least,  to  have  made  au  effort  to  adopt  the  principles 
of  the  common  law. 

December  1st,  1663,  the  town  of  Jamaica  resolved,  in 
town  raeetino;,  that  the  magistrates  of  that  town  should  pro- 
ceed "  according  to  the  laws  of  England,  as  near  as  they 
could." 

The  English  towns  under  the  Dutch  government,  seem  to 
have  been  governed  principally  by  the  ordinances  of  their 
tovvnsmen,  and  the  acts  made  at  their  town  meetings. 

Of  the  Tijranny  and  Imbecility  of  the  Dutch  Government. 

It  seems  that  the  governor  sported  with  the  rights  of  the 
people,  by  Avantonly  rejecting  such  magistrates  as  they  had 
chosen,  merely  to  gratify  his  humor  or  caprice.  This  arbi- 
trary exercise  of  authority  was  deemed  an  abuse  of  power, 
and  was  reprobated  both  by  the  magistrates  and  the  people. 

It  would  also  seem  that  the  government  was  not  suited  to 
the  wishes  nor  adequate  to  the  protection  of  the  people. 
The  laws  were  not  adapted  to  the  state  of  society,  nor  equal 
to  the  exigencies  of  the  times,  or  were  badly  executed — and 
the  governor  and  council  were  incompetent  or  indisposed  to 
remedy  the  evils ;  and  there  was  a  great  defect  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  justice. 

Public  insecurity  produced  general  discontent ;  the  people 
became  dissatislied  with  the  existing  state  of  things,  and 
languished  for  the  blessings  of  good  government. 

They  at  length  determined  to  lay  their  grievances  before 
the  governor  and  council. 

On  an  invitation  of  the  burgomasters  of  New-Amsterdam, 
a  convention  of  delegates  from  several  towns  met  in  that 
city,  November  26th,  1653,  and  adjourned  to  the  11th  of 
December  ensuing,  when  delegates  appeared  from  the  city, 
Brooklyn,  Flatbush,  Flatlands,  Gravesend,  Newtown,  Flush- 
ing, and  Hempstead. 

They  agreed  on  a  remonstrance  to  the  governor  and  coun- 
cil on  the  subject  of  their  grievances,  which  was  well  drawn, 
and  expressed  in  spirited  but  decent  laniiuage. 

They  remonstrated  against  the  exclu.'-ioii  of  the  people 
from  all  share  in  legislation — again.-t  thf  (i]u_'i-atiuii  of  old 
and  obsolete  laws — against  withholdiii-'  i;iaiit>  of  land  t<i  set- 
tlers, and  making  extravagant  grants  t(.»  particular  individ- 
ttals — against  the  appointment  of  magistrates  without  the 


86 


consent  of  the  people,  and  against  tlie  neglect  oi'  effectnal 
provision  for  the  defence  of  tin-  countrv. 

To  this  the  governor  and  cuuiicil  ^ave  no  answer  to  the 
deputies,  but  entered  a  reply  on  tlicir  iiiinutcs,  denied  the 
right  of  some  of  the  towns,  particulai  iy  I'.rwoklyn,  Flatbus-li, 
and  Flatlands,  to  send  deputies,  and  protested  against  the 
meeting. 

In  their  observations  on  the  remonstrance,  the  governor 
and  council  reflect  much  on  the  English  as  tlir  antliois  r.f 
the  public  discontent,  and  particularly  on  Glmii;:c  IJaxti'r. 
one  of  the  deputies  from  the  town  of  (rraveseml.  tu  whuui 
tiiey  evidently  impute  tlie  draught  of  the  rfinonstraiicc. 

December  l^th,  the  (le])Uties  ])reseiitr(l  another  reniuu- 
strance  in  which  they  di'clai'c,  that  it'  tlicy  couhl  nut  obtain 
redress  or  protection  fruiii  the  goNcniur  and  council,  they 
must  appeal  to  their  suiio-iors  in  the  Xetlierhuids.  This  so 
irritated  the  goveriKH-,  that  he  ordered  them  to  disperse  and 
forbid  their  assembling  again. 

At  this  period,  tlie  country  seems  to  have  been  overrun 
with  robbers,  and  that  there  was  no  adequate  authority  to 
redress  the  evil. 

April  7tli,  1654,  the  magistrates  of  Brooklyn,  Flatbnsh 
and  Flatlands,  united  in  forming  a  military  company  against 
"robbers  and  ]>irati'S,"  and  agreed  that  there  should  be  a 
sergeant  in  each  village. 

April  stli.  li;.")4.  the  go-\  ei-iior  ■^>ned  a  iiroelamation  against 
certain  robbers,  who  (a>  he  >rate>.)  had  lieen  banished  tVoui 
Xew-Eiighuid,  and  were  wandering  about  on  Long-Island. 

In  1654,  the  governor  refused  to  contirm  the  election  of 
George  Baxter  and  James  Hubbard,  who  had  been  chosen 
magistrates  that  year  for  the  town  of  Gravesend. 

These  two  men  were  among  the  original  ])atentees  of  tlie 
town,  and  had  been  freijuently  chosen  magistrates,  and  had 
uniformly  enjoyed  the  coniidence  of  their  fellow  citizens  * 

'  George  Baxter  had  been  an  ensipn,  and  James  Hubbard  a  sergeant  in  the  British  service, 
and  are  so  named  in  the  charter  of  Ciravesend.— They  both  seem  to  have  been  men  of  consid- 
erable capacity,  and  were  generally  entrusted  with  the  management  of  the  public  affairs  of 
that  town. 

Baxlr-i--.j..in^  fn  hnvf         a  ninn  -t  t;,lpiit.  nnd  H,lMrail..ii  —In  lii4'',  Cnvernfir  Kieft  ap- 

consi'i'  ■  I !•■  was 
appiii)  ,  . ,  .  I  ,  .  I  ,  ,  .  T.-aty 
of  H:ii  ,  ,  ;  I  ,  i  .  was 
estaiiK-  .  !  :  :  i..  .  ■  griev- 
ance- ■  '  ,,,,,,  I         , .  '  ,  I  .        ■   '   ,^  _  ..I  ri-nor 

aSCrit"-  -       ;;,,!>,;,,       •  !    ,  [    |  |  ,  i    ,i  I,  raiisB 

of  hi-  I..  ,1,  •,M,„„,  l.r  ...h.  1...,.,,  .,,(;, „,,lrii    ,  i  -  ^ ,  h  • : : ,  U-cl . 

Ba\i.  ;  vvi  i..  .1,  ,...1,..  H,  i:„  |...i„;|,i,-  .,1  KDgli-li  lil.iTi>  aiMi  c.mlil  eii.luri'  the  ty- 
ranny of  the  iJutch  governoi' ;  his  oppu.>iiiou  to  it  maiie  him  the  victim  ot  liis  persecution,  and 
It  is  supposed  that  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the  colony  to  escape  his  resentment. 


87 


The  rejection  or  removal  of  these  magistrates,  excited  so 
great  a  ferment  in  Gravesencl,  that  the  Governor  thought 
it  necessary  to  go  there  to  appease  it.  November  23d,  1654, 
the  governor  went  to  Gravesend,  and  to  etfect  his  purpose, 
he  was  obliged  to  avail  himself  of  the  influence  of  Lady 
Moody,  a  connection  of  Sir  Henry  Moody,  one  of  the  origin- 
al patentees.  He  conceded  the  nomination  of  the  magis- 
trates that  year  to  her  ;  and  her  popularity  reconciled  the 
people  to  the  measure,  and  produced  submission  to  the  arbi- 
trary act  of  the  governor. 

November  1st,  1663,  the  governor,  under  the  apprehen- 
sion that  it  was  the  design  of  the  English  to  invade  the 
Dutch  territories,  convened  a  meeting  of  the  magistrates  of 
most  of  the  Dutch  villages  at  IS  ew  Amsterdam.  The  meet- 
ing was  composed  of  tlie  magistrates  of  New-Amsterdam, 
Rensselaerwick,  Beverwick.Harlaem,  Bergen,  Staten-Island, 
Flatlands,  Flatbush,  Brooklyn,  Utrecht  and  Bushwick. 

This  convention,  after  hearing  what  the  governor  had  to 
communicate,  adjourned  without  doing  anything. 

The  government  had  become  unpopular  ;  the  Dutch  were 
disgusted  with  it,  and  the  English  were  anxious  for  a  change. 

The  English  towns  under  the  Dutch  jurisdiction,  had  for 
some  time  determined  to  withdraw  themselves  from  the 
Dutch  government.  Tliey  had  held  a  meeting  at  Hempstead 
the  preceding  winter,  and  had  agreed  to  put  themselves 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut ;  in  consequence  of 
which,  the  general  assembly  of  that  colony,  March  l(»th, 
1663,  appointed  two  commissioners,  "  to  go  to  Long-Island, 
to  settle  the  government  on  the  west  end  of  the  Island,  ac- 
cording to  the  agreement  at  Hempstead,  in  February  last." 

In  N'ovember,  1663,  the  English  embodied  at  Jamaica,  in 
such  foi-ce  that  the  governor  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  at- 
tempt to  disperse  them. 

The  colony  continued  in  this  perplexed  and  unsettled  state, 
till  the  ensuing  year,  when  the  English  vessels  arrived,  and 
on  the  27tli  August,  Old  Style,  1664,  a  treaty  was  signed, 
by  which  the  colony  of  New-Netherland  was  surrendered  to 
the  crown  of  Great-Britain. 


28 


88 


Of  the  English  Government  after  the  Conquest  till  the 
American  Revolution. 

I.  Of  tlie  government  of  the  Duke  of  York,  and  after  he 

had  ascended  the  throne,  till  the  revolution. 

II.  Of  the  revolution  in  the  Colony  in  16S9. 

III.  Of  the  Colony  govennneut  after  the  revolution. 

1.  By  the  conquest,  the  whole  of  Long-Island  was  incorpo- 
rated with  the  colony  of  New- York,  and  became  subject  to 
the  Duke  of  York. 

The  English  towns  wliicli  hiid  been  subject  to  the  Dutch, 
rejoiced  that  tbcy  wci'c  t'ri'cil  iVmii  their  >ubjection  to  a  gov- 
ernment which  they  disHked,  and  the  uther  English  towns 
rejoiced  that  they  were  relieved  from  all  further  apprehen- 
sions, from  the  jealousy  and  ambition  of  a  foreign  power  in 
their  neighbourhood. 

The  eastern  towns  would  have  preferred  the  continuance 
of  their  connection  with  the  colony  of  Connecticut,  and  re- 
luctantly submitted  to  its  dissolution. 

All  the  English  towns,  as  well  those  that  had  been  set- 
tled under  the  Dutch,  as  those  that  had  been  connected  with 
Connecticut,  flattered  themselves  with  the  expectation  tliat 
they  should  be  admitted  to  the  cumniun  privilege  of  j>ritish 
subjects,  of  participating  in  the  formation  of  the  laws  by 
which  they  were  to  be  governed. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  they  discovered  that  they 
had  l)een  too  sanguine  in  their  expectations. 

Itichard  Nicolls,  the  deputy  governor,  under  the  Duke 
of  York,  on  the  first  of  March,  1665,  convened  a  meeting 
at  Hempstead,  of  two  deputies  from  every  town  on  the  Is- 
land, and  two  from  Westchester,  for  the  purpose  of  organ- 
izing the  government,  of  adjusting  interfering  purchases, 
and  settling  the  limits  of  the  several  towns.* 

At  tliis  meeting,  it  is  presumed  that  Long-Island  and  Sta- 
teu-Ishaid,  and  |)iMb;il)Jy  the  town  of  At^estchester  were 
erected  into  a  -hire,  liy  the  name  of  Yorkshire,  which  was 
divided  into  tlii'cr  riding>. 

Stateu  Island  and  Newtown,  with  the  several  towns  in 

*  While  at  this  meeting,  the  deputies  signed  an  address  to  the  Dulce  of  Torl£,  full  of  grati- 
tude anil  I  '.VMlty,  whiiij  a-  soon  a.-  Ilieir  oristitueiits  found  that  they  were  not  to  have  the  choice 
of  Ihci:  ■  )  :  ,ij  -ir  I  '  :i'  .  -l[,Li-.'  Ill  li-L'i>lation  was  severely  reprobatuii.  and  tin- (h.-piities 
were  -  :  -iL'naiuics  to  it,  that  it  was  ik.  ni' '1  nr,  .  ,.  ,iy  to 

check  •  —  I  lir  ,;,,urt  of  assize,  in  Octolit-r  I'-'n'i.  i  .^  l  .-.l  that 

wh",-  . ,,  -  il.  ;  I  art  nr -peak  against  any  of  the  ih'puri.;,-.  >i;:!i;n,L' ttie 

address!'  u.-  K.ivu  lli^i  m -.,  a:  liie  (general  meeting  at  Hempstead,  they  sliall  he  presented 
to  the  next  court  ol  sessions,  and  if  thejustices  sliall  see  cause,  they  shall  from  thence  be  houud 
oyer  to  the  assizes,  there  to  answer  for  the  slander  upon  plaint  or  information. 


89 


Kin^s  county,  formed  the  west  riding — tlie  towns  of  Jamaica, 
Flusliing,  Hempstead,  Oysterbay,  and  as  is  supposed,  West- 
cliester,  formed  tlie  iSTortli  Riding,  and  the  several  towns  in 
Sutfolk  formed  the  East  Hiding. 

The  several  towns  Avere  recognized,  and  were  required  to 
take  out  patents  from  the  gijvernor  for  the  lands  which  they 
had  purchased  within  their  limits. 

The  governor  appointed  a  high  slierilf  for  the  whole  shire, 
and  a  deputy  sheriff  or  high  constable  for  each  riding,  and 
a  justice  of  the  peace  for  each  town. 

The  high  sheriff  and  deputy  sheriffs  were  appointed  year- 
ly. The  justices  of  the  peace  were  appointed  during  plea- 
sure. In  1666,  the  office  of  under  sheriff  or  high  constable 
was  abolished.  In  16S3,  the  office  of  high  sheriff"  was  done 
away,  and  a  sheriff  was  ordered  to  be  appointed  in  each 
county. 

At  this  meeting  the  governor  promulgated  a  code  of  laws, 
which  were  principally  compiled  from  the  laws  of  the  other 
English  colonies,  and  which  he  had  caused  to  be  collected 
and  digested  for  the  government  of  this  colony.f 

These  laws  with  the  alterations  and  additions  made  to 
tliem  from  time  to  time,  by  the  governor  and  council,  con- 
tinued to  be  the  laws  of  the  colony  until  October  1683, 
when  the  first  colony  legislature  met,  and  the  people  were 
admitted  for  a  short  time,  to  a  share  in  the  legislative  power. 

These  laws  which  are  called  the  Duke's  laws,  authorized 
the  several  towns  annually  on  the  first  or  second  day  of 
April,  to  elect  a  constable,  and  at  first,  eight,  and  by  a  sub- 
secjuent  amendment,  f.mr  overseers,  who  were  the  assessors 
c>f  the  town,  and  with  tlie  constable  were  empowered  to  make 

*  By  an  order  of  the  governor  and  court  of  assize,  in  16T5,  Staten-Island  was  detached  from 
Long-Island,  and  permitted  "  to  have  a  jurisdiction  itself,"  and  in  I0S3,  was  erected  into  a 
separate  county.  Newtown  continued  attached  to  Kings  county,  until  the  organiziition  of  the 
counties  by  the  first  general  assembly,  in  16Si,  when  it  was  made  a  part  of  Queens  county. 

+  This  code  of  laws  was  evidently  calculated  principally  for  Yorkshire,  comprehending  Long- 
Island,  Staten-Island,  and  probably  the  town  of  Westchester.  New-York  and  Albany  had  some 
sort  of  municipal  government.  E.vclusive  of  these,  Long-Island,  Staten-Island,  and  Westches- 
ter, contained  the  chief  part  of  tlie  inhabitants  of  the  colony  in  1665.  No  other  county  e.xcept 
Richmond,  (which  was  detached  from  Long-Island  in  1675)  was  organized  until  16s3.  No  magis- 
trates attended  the  court  of  assize  in  16Si,  north  of  New- York,  but  from  the  towns  of  Albany 
and  Esopus. 

In  16S3,  an  estimate  was  taken  of  the  property  of  the  inhabitants  ;  and  in  1654,  a  ta.\  of  £202 
10s.  was  levied  on  the  colony  agreeable  to  the  said  estimate ;  and  if  property  was  in  proportion 
to  numbers,  will  furnish  some  rule  by  which  to  estimate  the  population  of  the  colony  at  that 
period.    The  proportions  of  the  several  counties  were  as  follows  : 

New-York,  £35  Suffolk,  £35 

Albany,        27  10  Queens,  25 

Clster,  25  Kings,  2.5 

  Richmond,  15 

8T  10  Westchester,  16 


90 


ro"-iilatit)ns  respecting  matters  wliicli  concerned  the  jxtlice 
and  i?(X)d  government  of  the  town.  Tlie  constable  and 
overseers  were  required  annually  to  appoint  two  of  the  over- 
seers to  make  the  rate  for  building  and  repairing  the  church, 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  minister,  and  for  the  support  ot 
the  poor.*  ,  i    •  i 

From  tlie  overseers,  the  constable  selected  the  jurors  wlio 
attended  the  courts  of  sessions  and  assize. 

The  principal  courts  established  by  these  laws,_were  the 
town  court — the  court  of  sessions  and  the  court  of  assize. 

The  town  court  was  cmnpu^cd  .,f  tho  c.-n^table,  and  bv  an 
amendment  of  the  ori-inal  law.  ..f  tw,.  ..sn-eers;  and  had 
coijnizance  of  all  cause.  <,l  d.  lit  and  nv-pass^  under  live 
pounds,  and  the  justice  of  the  peace  was  authorized,  but  not 
required,  to  preside  in  this  court.  ,    .  ^■ 

The  court  of  sessions  was  established  in  eacli  ridmg,  and 
was  to  be  held  twiee  a  year.  It  wa^  .-.miiM.M.l  of  the 
iusticesof  the  peaeeof  the  several  town.  n.  the  i  iding,  each 
of  whom  wa-  at  tii-t  alluv.e.l  l-Jn  a  vrur.  uliiel.  in  1660. 
was  altered  intM  ;ni  allowance  inv  their  exix  iier^.t- 

This  court  had  juriMlietion  of  all  eriniinal  eaii.es,  and  ot 
all  civil  caii.e.  over  ari.in-  in  the  ridln.i:'.  (  aiises  Avere 
tried  in  this  court  in  civil  cu.es,  and  in  criiniiial  cases  not 
capital,  by  a  jury  of  seven  men,  and  the  verdict  was  deter- 
mined by  the  voice  of  a  majority  ;  but  in  capital  cases  the 
jury  consisted  of  twelve  men,  and  they  were  required  to  be 
unanimous. 

The  judgment  of  this  court  for  sums  under  £20,  were 
final;  from  such  as  were  for  more  than  that  sum,  the  parties 
might  appeal  to  the  court  of  assize. 

*  From  the  origin  of  the  colony,  each  town  was  required  to  support  i's  "T"  ,rhv  Jnll 
money  necessary  for  that  purpose,  was  directed  to  be  raise.i  in  each  town  re»pectn'el} ,  iT  those 
who  from  time  to  time,  adjusted  the  contingent  expenses  of  the  several  counties.  Jiy  tne 
Duke's  laws  of  1 CC5,  the  constable  and  overseers  were  required  to  take  charge  ol  I  he  poor. 

By  the  act  of  16s3,  the  commissioners  of  each  town  were  requued  to  perform  the  same 

"By"the  act  of  1691,  the  assessors  and  supervisor  seem  to  have  been  required  to  perform 
that  du'  v    :„A         =eems  to  have  been  the  practice  until  overseers  were  authorized  to  be 

iriis  in  Suffolk  were  authorized  to  choose  overseers  of  the  poor.  Soon 


'''"^'^  I  iriis  in  Suffolk  were  authorized  to 

r, •■,..=  wprp  ftiitlinrizHfl  to  do  the  sam.. 

zed  to  choose  overseers  of  the  poor, 


aftei  ,  11  i.-5  were  autliorized  to  do  the  same. 


of  the  poor,  was  adopted. 


and  the     -loi,,  «  hid.  has  ever  sit..-.         .i  -i 

t  The  recor<is  of  this  court,  as  . .  -  re-organized  by  the  act  of  16S3, 

arc  still  to  be  found  in  the  clerk.-  ■  '  Suffolk.    In  Kin^  there  is  a  reg- 

"ar  series  of  them  from  1669  to  U  ,  ^  l  I'ears  to  h:ve  ,een  a  common 

practice  for  the  secretary  of  the  cul  iiy.  1  'ii        '     i,  ikth 

Set  in  Court  with  the  justices.    In  the  reo-  "  wS  he'd  at 

167 1,  Mathias  Nicoll,  the  secretary,  is  stj  1.  i  '  „  „    „f  th. 

Oravesend  from  its  origin  till         when  it  i.r         nf  ivl 

colony  legislature.    There  is  also  in  the  cl.  ,  '  In  '  .                  .       "f  "'"^t "le 

acts  of  the  first  assembly,  passed  in  16S3  and  in  10s4,  with  on.  or  t«o,  «i;.ch  were  passed  by 
the  second  assembly  in  I6s5. 


91 


Tlie  members  of  tlie  council,  the  secretary  of  tlie  colony, 
and  the  high  sheriff,  were  respectively  authorized  to  sit  with 
the  justices  of  the  court  of  sessions,  and  when  either  of  them 
was  present,  he  was  required  to  preside.  The  courts  of  ses- 
sions also  took  the  proof  of  wills  in  the  respective  ridings.* 

The  court  of  assize  was  composed  of  the  governor,  coun- 
cil, and  the  magistrates  of  the  several  towns,  and  was  held 
once  a  year  in  the  city  of  New-York. 

This  court  received,  heard  and  determined  appeals  from 
the  court  of  sessions  and  other  inferior  tribunals. 

Suits  for  demands  above  £20  might  be  commenced  in  this 
c<jurt  on  the  warrant  of  the  governor  :  so  that  it  had  origi- 
nal as  well  as  appellate  jurisdiction,  and  was  a  court  of 
e(juity  as  well  as  common  law.f 

Of  the  Tyranny  of  the  Dulce's  Government. 

The  Duke's  laws  made  no  provision  for  a  general  assem- 
bly.   The  people  had  no  voice  in  the  government. 

The  governor  had  unlimited  power,  executive,  legislative 
and  judicial.  He  was  commander-in-chief  All  public  offi- 
cers were  appointed  by  him,  and  most  of  them  held  their 
offices  during  his  pleasure. 

The  governor  also,  with  the  advice  of  the  council,  had 
the  exclusive  power  of  legislation,  and  could  make  what 
laws  he  pleased,  and  could  alter  and  repeal  them  when  he 
pleased. 

*  By  the  Duke's  laws,  the  court  of  sessions  in  each  county  took  the  proof  of  wills,  which 
was  transmitted  with  the  wills  to  the  "  oIDce  of  records  "  at  New-York,  and  the  executors  re- 
ceived a  copy  thereof  with  a  certificate  of  its  being  allowed,  attested  under  the  seal  of  the 
office. 

By  an  act  of  November  llth,  1C!>2,  the  power  of  taking  the  proof  of  wills,  and  of  granting 
letters  testamentary  and  letters  of  administration,  was  vested  in  the  governor  or  a  delegate  ap- 
pointed by  him.  in  all  the  counties  except  New-York,  Orange,  Richmond,  Kings  and  West' 
Chester,  the  proof  was  permitted  to  be  taken  by  the  courts  of  common  pleas,  or  by  a  judge  and 
two  justices  out  of  court,  and  was  transmitted  to  the  governor ;  on  which  letters  testamentary, 
or  of  administration,  were  to  be  granted  by  him.  It  became  the  practice  for  the  governor  to 
appoint  delegates  in  other  counties  who  took  the  proof  of  wills  and  granted  letters  testament- 
ary and  letters  of  administration  before  the  revolution. 

In  1T7S,  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  of  the  state,  suiTogates  were  ordered  to  be  appointed  by 
the  governor  and  council  of  appointment  in  every  county,  and  our  present  system  was  estab- 
lished. 

t  Smith,  in  his  history  of  New-York,  supposes  this  court  was  established  by  Gov.  Lovelace. 
This  is  a  great  mistake  :  It  was  established  by  NicoUs  in  the  code  he  had  compiled  for  the  gov- 
ernmentof  the  colony,  and  published  in  the  assembly  at  Hempstead  March  1st,  1C65.  In  the 
fall  of  tue  same  year,  the  three  last  days  in  September,  and  the  se -ond,  third  and  fourth  days 
in  October,  a  general  court  of  assize  was  holden  at  New-York,  composed  of  Richard  Nicolls,  the 
governor,  the  members  of  the  council,  and  the  justices  of  the  three  ridings  of  Yorkshire,  on 
Long-Island  and  Staten-Isiand. 

The  number  of  justices  who  attended  this  court  rendered  it  a  grievance .  In  the  act  of  16S4, 
passed  for  its  repeal,  it  is  alledged  that  it  had  "  become  a  great  charge  and  expense  to  the  pro- 
vince ;  and  by  reason  of  the  great  number,  not  so  fit  and  capable  to  hear  and  determine  mat- 
ters and  causes  of  a  civil  nature,  usually  brought  to  the  said  court;"  and  it  was  for  that  reason 
abolished. 

The  last  Court  of  assize  held  under  Sir  Edmund  Andross,  October  6th,  1080,  was  composed 
of  the  governor,  five  councillors,  the  mayor  of  New-York,  five  aldermen  and  seventeen 
justices. 


92 


Some  of  the  amendments  to  the  original  code,  purport  to 
have  been  made  at  the  eonrt  of  assize,  of  which  the  justices 
of  the  several  towns  formed  a  part.  This  was  not  a  legis- 
lative but  a  judicial  body,  and  the  power  of  the  justices, 
with  regard  to  legishition,  was  probably  like  that  of  the  par- 
liament of  France  before  the  rcvulutidii,  merely  to  register 
the  edicts  made  by  the  -.in  i  rn.ii' ami  (•(Uiiicil. 

So  far  as  they  were  pi  rniitr.l  to  inlei-fere,  the  indulgence 
was  calculated,  if  iii-t  intendeil.  to  l(  ~-t'n  the  responsibility 
of  the  governor,  wit  hour  dimiiii-liiiiu'  his  ])ower. 

It  is  certain  tlint  their  iire~eiice  . n- I'oueiin-enee  was  not 
necessary,  and  that  tlie  act  iiii|Mi-iiii;'  ilmie^  e~talili>hiiig  an 
excise,  andmany  otlier  iiupoftaiit  acts,  were  adopted  by  the 
governor  in  council,  and  not  at  the  court  of  as>i/.e.  The 
people  never  considered  the  justices  as  their  re[ire-eiitatl\'es. 
and  censured  the  acts  made  at  the  court  of  as>i/.e.  a-  nmeh 
as  others.  The  governor  presided  in  the  court  of  a<-ize, 
which,  by  appeal,  had  the  control  of  all  inferior  trihuiials. 
The  judgments  ami  ilccrc(-  ..t'thi-  com't  were  piMhaMy  r-iich 
as  the  governor  flic!  at  CI  1  ;  hi-  a--i-iaiit~  not  hciug  culleagues, 
but  merely  ad\ i-eis.  who  held  their  authority  inider  him 

anil  Wcl'c  ilcpclnlelit  oil  hiui. 

In  thi>  court  the  go\eriior  united  the  character  of  b(»th 
judge  and  legislator.  He  interprered  lii-  own  acts,  and  not 
only  pronounced  what  the  law  was,  but  w  hat  it  should  be. 

Of  the  PiMic  Discontent. 

The  people  on  Long-Island  considered  some  rtf  the  laws 
established  by  the  original  code,  as  arbitrary  ami  oi)i)re->ive  ; 
and  tliev  deeiiie(l  some  that  were  made  \)\  Col.  LoNclace. 
■who  coiniiiciiced  his  administration  in  May  1007,  as  still 
more  exceptionable. 

They  at  length  I'esolved  to  represent  their  grievances  to 
the  governor  and  council,  and  to  pi'ay  for  redre-s. 

October  9th,  1669,  the  towns  oi'  I  Icmp-tead,  Jamaica, 
Oysterbay.  Kbishing.  ^vewtowu,  ( >  i  a \ , -i  ihI.  \Vestchester 
and  East'Chc-tcr.  -(•\erally  pctitiMud  f.,r  redi'o-. 

They  euuiiiei-ated  the  detect-  in  the  exi-ting  laws,  which 
they  wished  to  be  remedied.  >tated  the  ]>rovi-ion- w  hich  they 
wished  to  be  adopted — renion-trated  agaiii-t  the  re-ti-ictious 
which  the  governor  had  impo-ed  on  trade;  ami  re]>rohated, 
as  thegreatc-t  .it'  their  -  riex  ances,  the  exclusion  of  the  peo- 
j)le  from  any  >hare  in  legi^latitni.'"' 

•  In  their  petitions  they  refer  to  the  proclamation  issued  to  the  people  of  Long-Island  and 
others,  by  the  commissioners,  on  their  first  landing  at  Gravesend,  before  the  surrender  of  the 


93 


The  governor  and  council  received  the  petitions,  granted 
some  of  their  minor  requests,  but  in  the  most  important 
cases  refused  any  redress. 

The  town  of  Southampton  was  purcliased  and  settled 
under  the  authority  of  the  Earl  of  Stirling  while  he  held  tlie 
Island,  which  circumstance  thepeojile  of  that  town  sTipposed 
exem[ited  tliem  from  the  nccc»ity  (.)f  taking  our  a  intent 
for  tlieir  hinds,  from  tlic  governor,  as  was  rcfpiircil  of  otlier 
towH>  l»y  the  hiws  of  l(;i'i:>.  and  neglected  to  do  it;  in  con- 
se(jiieiice  of  wliich,  the  governor  and  couneil,  at  the  court 
of  a»ize,  ()ctol)er  sth,  107<»,  declared  the  titles  to  lands  in 
that  town  iiivalii],  unless  a  patent  was  obtained  for  them 
within  a  limited  time. 

l!y  another  act  made  at  the  same  time,  a  levy  or  contri- 
liutioiL  wa-  ordei'e(lto  he  maile  in  the  several  towns  on  Long- 
Island,  to  repair  tlie  fort  at  Xew-^'oi'k.-'-- 

colony  promisiii!.' tliiit  tln-s  ■■-h  .iil.]  eui-.v  all      li  |m\  il('u.  <  as  his  majesty's  other  sulgects  in 

America  enjovfil    '  Hi'-  ni'    '  i  nt  ni  \'  Inrli  i  tir\  a  lli-ii::!'.  is  a  participation  in  tlie  power 

of  inakin'j  tlie  I  iv. .  I.     ,  !  a -i-  i.i  1.  j-,  .  i  n.  il.     I. v  -iich  deputies  as  shall  lie  vearly 

clioseii  by  the  li.  .  .  .  :  -  i  i  I'.wij  an.l  ;.aii-li.  aii.l  iliov  claiiiieil  a  fulhlnieut  of  that 
promise. 

Thevalsocom|.l  .  :,  .  .  i  - aa  -.-.  that  anv  a.:i~ -lioul.l  he  made  hv  the  governor  under 
pretence  of  his .  .  -i  i  .  ai  •  i.i  lie  ml.. nned  what  is  required  uf  them  by  vii- 

tue  of  the  comini-  i n  _  t  .1  .  i  i.v  :     I:  x  al  Ihtrlmess  the  Duke  of  York." 

*  The  charge-   '     ,    —  :     .     .  .  .niiti-s  uii.I.t  the  Duke  of  York,  were  defrayed  by 

a  direct  tax  on  til...      i  .        ■   .       1.  .1  an. I       -..rial  ..I  th.;  mliahttaiits.  ai;.;.ii  .liuL'  to  an 

estimate  made  by  tlie  e.jii-i,...        1  ••.  1   i.ial  ■»  r..nl..iM,M>         •  ••!  tarn 

rules  prescribed  by  law.     la                                1        a  a  :  ,  .         .1  by 

the  governor  and  council,  I.                                            \  \  1  lally 

suffii.ient  for  the  i.nri...-.a     i    ■  ■       ...a.  ..I  n.  1  ■  a.-'  n.       aial  |.aal  ..\ - i-  1..  .-uch 


,  |..M,.  ...  -  !.-.  la.  a  ..,.,11  ,iii;ii.ai;\ .  1.1,;  il,..  :i!t-.-mi.t  uii-t  ttith.-o  iiiucli  (.pposition,  that  it 

COul.l  li...t  be  .aim... I  llil"  ..•II...--1, 

The  colony  charges  were  paid  out  ol  the  raoiiies  arising  from  duties  imposed  by  the  governor 
and  council  on  exiiorts  andmiiiorts.  In  the  iall  of  Iti  .I.  (.Tnyernor  Nicolls  established  a  tarift 
of  duties  on  goods  e.xported  to  the  Netherlands;  anl  sliorlly  after,  on  other  goods,  exported 
and  imported. 

August  (ith,  16611,  Governor  Lovelace  imposed  an  excise  on  wmes,  which  was  soon  after  ex- 
tended to  other  liquors. 

October  l.Mh,  lOW),  he  imposed  a  duty  of  two  guilders  on  every  hogshead  of  tobacco  exported, 
payable  in  wampum,  "1-  percent,  ad  valorem  on  beaver;  an.l  on  :ill  other  goods  eximrted 
per  r.-lit.  a.l  viilorem. 

Mav  ;.i.'  ;i.,.'i.— It  was  ordered  that  goods  from  I'.ai:    .;       .1  na      .  ami  n     1         .  e  Is- 

lan.l-  -li.ail'l  lie  imported  duty  free,  exce|it  rum  an.l  .    ;■  :  ■        I  .    -    ,  ,        \,  ith 

the  I...--  ol  pat I'lits  and  other  fees  ot  oflice,  yielded  a  re\ iiu..'  a.  Ii:i[iiai.:  tu  th.;  01  .liiaii  ■;  -n[.port 
of  the  executive  government. 

The  Imposition  ol  duties  by  the  governor  without  the  consent  of  the  people,  was  deemed  a 
grievance  :  and  was  complained  of  by  the  people  of  Jamaica  in  their  remonstrance  of  Decem- 
ber '.Ith  H'lTn  a<_';iiii-t  till'  inii.nsition  nf  a  direct  tax  for  the  reparation  of  the  fort  by  the  same 
anthorit\  mi  aS..!  .  ili  ■  |.h,.|,i..  ,|  >,  utliampton,  111  their  remonstrance  of  February  15th, 
KiTl   .T  la-;.!..   a!,;,   a     I,   j  '  I  ■  ;  a     ■  :  ,  1  k  e  ou  t  a  He  w  patc  u  t. 

Iiil.-    I                    ,1     -  r    .  il.il  the  Duke's  law  relative  to  rates,  and  passed  a 

new  act  i  .,  -  ..a  -  a  .  a.  h  respective  city,  town  and  county,  thruiiu'liout  the 
colony,  alal  f. .!  naiiia  .iinin-  tin-  [  

By  this  the  a.ssessment  was  to  lie  made  by  a  certain  number  la  i-    i;  .  . .  i  e  to 

be  chosen  by  the  town,    fhe  amount  of  the  tax  lor  the  publi.  .    I  i.y  a 

committee  composed  of  a  commissioner  from  each  town,    llieia     •  .  t  v  the 

constables  of  the  several  towns,  and  paid  to  a  treasurer  appointeil  i..v  the  .  ..iiiiiii--i..iiei-,  who 
wa«  to  pay  the  same  over  to  those  wliose  accounts  had  been  allowed,  on  the  warrant  ol  the  com- 
missioners. 

May  13th,  16D1.— The  tirst  assembly,  after  the  revolution,  passed  an  act  authorizing  each 


94 


Tlie  Eii<i-lish  colonists  on  Long-Island  brouglit  Avitli  tliem 
the  (loctriiie  that  taxation  and  representation  were  insei)ar- 
able — that  the  i>o\ver  of  disi)osing  of  liis  own  money,  was 
the  birthright  of  every  British  subject,  and  one  of  the  ele- 
mentary principles  of  British  liberty,  and  that  taxes  could 

town  to  choose  two  assessors  and  a  freeholder.  The  estimate  was  to  be  made  by  the  assessors, 
and  the  public  charge  of  tlie  county  was  to  be  adjusted  by  the  said  freeholders  of  the  several 
towns.  They  were  to  choose  a  treasurer,  to  wlioiii  the  taxes  were  to  be  paid  by  the  constables, 
who  were  to  collect  the  same— and  thu  tri  ii>un  i  «     <>,        tlmn  ovt  r  in  their  order. 

By  an  act  of  tJctober ISth,  n»l,  e.u  li  t  iun  u.i-  an' Imi i/.  li  ii.  ,  two  assessors  and  acol- 

lector.  The  public  charges  of  the  rniiiin  ik  i.  i.,  1.  .niju  ir.i  I  .\  i h.^  justices,  at  the  court  of 
sessions,  who  were  to  ajipoint  the  tiiM-ui  n ,  tn  u  i  h,  ,  rini  h  as  to  pay  the  ta.xes,  and 
who  was  to  pay  the  accounts  that  wert-  alldu  i  .1  In  ih.  lu-n,  ,  -, 

By  an  act  of  March  "th,  17"3.  each  town  was  <  Imm.^.  i  \\ .  >  a  ■  -  <  —  "r>.  a  cNll.cinr  run!  a  -uper- 
visor.    The  supervisors  were  to  adjust  the  puMi.'  ■  -.  an  l  [|.|h,)i,i  a  ■■•'u\,t\  ii.  a-un  r,  to 

whom  the  collector  was  tn  jmv  the  taxes,  ami  «  la.  \\  a>  i^-  |  ay  \ . a  iia  -an;,  hi  lia  [aiMi.  ,  red- 
itors,  on  the  warrant  "f  lb'-  -up.  i  v  i-iu>. 

This  act  has  Cilia  I  >s       im\-  vari:ili..ii  lill  ihi-  |  i.i  ti          Tl.r  l:r -i  .'  I.  'n  1rt><!, 

also  passed  an  ai'i  I     .a     ,  •,  i, .  '     i  .a,iri,iir  iliai    -  ..i  i  la         iimaaii     /       ■        ■  •  \  m-w 

modelled  the  form  i  ;  .1  :'     li'.  ai.i-.-.  iMmirv  ,ai  \  ai  aai- -  ...  'I  lii'y 

imposed  a  duty  ol  ^  n  p' i  i  -  iii  on  i:iMHi>  iuijM.rlMl  liir  iIil-  Iinlian  u.iil-'  ,  aial  -lijui  tn  have 
contemplated  relying  wholly  on  this  source  of  revenue  for  the  oidinar^  suiipurt  ol  govern- 
ment. 

Similar  acts  were  passed  from  time  to  time ;  and  the  government  in  time  of  peace,  during 
the  colony  administration,  was  generally  supported  by  the  revenue  derived  from  duties  and  the 
excise. 

In  time  of  war,  which  occurred  very  frequently,  the  colony  assemblies  had  recourse  to  other 
taxes,  but  principally  to  direct  ta.xes  and  emissions  of  paper  money,  redeemable  by  direct 
taxes. 

October  2d.  1600.  the  assf-mhly  under  Ltisler,  levied  a  direct  tax  of  three  pence  in  the  pound 
to  defray  the  exiH-n-.  -  of  iln-  ti  nnp^  r.iised  to  go  against  .Montreal. 

In  1706,  the  cnlonial  li  L-i>laturc  .  tnitieil  £tAH«>  in  paper  money,  to  be  redeemed  in  a  given 
time,  which  practiia-  was  nltin  rtpi-atfil  during  the  colonial  government. 

The  practice  was  nn  issuing  a  given  sum  in  paper,  to  provide  tor  rai^inj:  tlie  same  sum,  pay- 
able by  instalments,  by  a  direct  tax,  so  as  to  extinguish  the  debt  in  a  L-iveii  jieriod.  On  the 
collection  of  every  instalment,  it  was  exchanged  for  tlie  same  anmunt  i  f  paper,  which  was 
destroyed. 

In  1765,  the  colonial  legislature  emitted -€6:3,000— in  1750,  £62,110"— in  1 7.js,  £1ihi,000— in  1759, 
jCIOO.i'O'J— and  in  17tiO,  £60,0ii0,  in  paper  money  for  the  support  of  their  truops  employed  in 
the  French  war  :  Other  colonies  did  the  Uke,  nor  could  the  war  have  been  supported  without 
that  resource. 

In  175ft,  the  colony  legislature,  on  the  application  of  Sir  Jeffery  Amherst,  issued  £1.50,000  in 
pap.  r  iiiiiney,  and  loane<l  it  to  the  (leiierai  fur  the  jiurpose  of  forwardint:  the  i>ublio  service, 

It  appear-  rn.m  the  rep.irt  to'tle-  a--.  iiil.l\  in  ITi  li.  tliat  the  various  sums  i.f  jiaper  money  is- 
-ii-.l  l.y  the  i  nl.iiiy  of  New-Vork,  frum  171  t  ti.  ITd  ImiIIi  im  lusiie,  ainimiited  to  £6  il,0li7,  of 
which  sum,  on  the  1st  of  November  17Ci5,  £li;-.T  i>  lid,  had  been  redeemed,  and  £1S2,906 
Ills.  Cd_.  remained  in  circulation. 

In  1787,  the  colonial  legislature  issued  £4i'.iiiiii  in  paper,  appnrtinned  it  among  the  several 
counties,  and  loaned  it  to  the  people  on  laniled  -rrui  iiy  at  an  interest  of  hve  per  cent.,  payable 
annually,  with  a  provision  for  the  re-payment  of  the  principal  by  four  instalments  of  one-fourth 
each  ill  j747,  '-IS,  '49  and  '50,  which  when  paid  in  was  destroyed. 

In  1771  the  colony  legislature  issued  £120,000  in  paper,  and  loaned  it  to  relieve  the  wants  of 
the  people. 

In  tiiu'-s  uheii  niniiev  was  sraree.it  was  tisual  to  resort  to  loans  of  paj^er  money  to  supply 

the  defi.-i.  i„  •.      tla  ,  i,.„|.,ti.,L-  ni.-iliuin,  and  to  reli-ve  ii,..  ■>:...  .,f  ,|,..  mbabitant-.  The 

money         •  ,,  ,i  i  in  laml-.  «  ha  b  «  .a  -  a.  ■.  alio      I  b.-  <  .a  laiiity 

ofitsr.-l.    ,:  ■    I,,.       :     .]  ,■■  .i- proiaatirai,    ■Hieinti-.'    •    >..    publir  i  ■  i  .ana.',  and 

the  circa;  , la  1,  , a    la  iumim  i  nn  ij.airate,l  the  indllslrv  ,  a    •  l,  i  al -.l  t       inipi      cment,  and  aug- 
mented the  wealtli  and  piosperity  of  the  colony. 

In  170O,  the  revenue  of  the  colony  appears,  from  the  treasurer's  report  to  the  assembly,  to 
have  been  derived  from  the  following  sources : 

Duties  on  tonnage,  ........£  2,040 

On  wine,  rum,  brandy,  cocoa,  negroes,  and  dry  goods,  imported  from  the  1  oo  cm 
British  Islands,  -         -         .         /  "     .  '     '.         .  \  «2,643 

Direct  tax,  and  monies  derived  from  loans,       ....  83,896 

The  excise,        ........  8,700 

An  emission  of  paper  money,      ......  60,000 

£132  279 


95 


only  1)0  inij^oscd  with  the  consent  of  the  people,  bv  their  re- 
prrsciitativerf  in  a  i;-enenil  iisscnil)l_v. 

They  had  for  Sdiiie  yeai's  ]iai(l  a  direct  tax  of  a  penny  in 
the  ponnd  to  defray  the  ]iiililic  cliai'-c-  nf'tlie  several  towns 
and  counties,  of  which  they  had  not  cDiniihuned. 

The  u-nverniir  had  also  inipo-ed  diitio  on  u'oods  iin})orted 
and  exported  according  to  lii-  ph-a-nre  for  the  >upport  of 
government,  and  was  now  attempting  to  rai>e  money  In'  a 
direct  tax  for  other  purposes  without  the  consent  of  the  peo- 
ple. 

SoN'eral  ot  the  towns  were  alarmed  at  the  precedent  about 
to  he  otahH-lieil.  as  dangerous  to  their  liberties,  and  deter- 
mined to  I'esist  it. 

The  towns  of  South  Old,  South  ITamj)ton,  and  East 
Hampton,  in  a  joint  meeting  by  their  delegates  at  South 
agreed  to  contribute  to' the  repaii'ing  (if  the  fort,  "if 
they  iiiight  have  tlie  ]ii'i\-ih'ges  that  other  of  liis  majesty's 
subjects  in  the>e  ]iarts  lia\-e  and  do  enjoy  " — alhiding  to  the 
goveriiment>  of  Xew-Kiighmd. 

June  libth.  \i'i~'2. — The  town  of  P]ast  Hampton,  to  whom 
the  proceedings  of  the  delegate>  were  commuincated.  ap- 
proved of  the  decision  of  the  (h'puties,  and  agree(l  to  com[)ly 
Avitli  the  order  "if  the  privih'go  may  he  obtained,  but  not 
oTher\\'i>e."'  The  towns  ot'  I  luntiiigtoii.  l''hi-liiiig.  Ilem]i- 
-tead  and  damaica.  by  tlie  vote>  of  tlieir  re>[iective  town 
meet  iuL;--.  I'efiixMl  to  comply  with  the  onkn-,  and  comniuni- 
(■ate(l  the  i-ea-oii- of  tlieir  refn>al  in  writing  to  their  respect- 
ive CI iii>tal)h.'s  and  over>eeis  to  whom  tlie  order  was  sent. 

The  pet.i[ile  of  Iluutiiigtmi  a>>igned  tlii>  among  other  rea- 
sons fortlieir  refusal,  viz.  ;  ••  becau-e  tliey  were  dein-ived  of 
the  liberties  of  Englishmen  "' — intimating  that  they  deemed 
it  a  violation  of  their  con>titutional  rights,  that  their  money 
sliould  be  taken  froni  them  w  ithout  their  consent  by  their 
rei>reseiitatives  in  general  assembly. 

The  ]ieople  of  Jamaica,  in  justification  of  their  refusal, 
■-tatiMl  that  they  considered  themselve>  already  suthciently 
burdene(l.  by  the  eidianced  price  wliich  they  paid  for 
their  goods,  in  con>e(pience  of  tlu'  duties  which  the  gov- 
ernor had  impt»ed  on  them,  in  addition  to  a  penny  in  the 
pound,  which  they  paid  towards  the  public  charges.  That 
a  compliance  with  tlie  ordei-  would  be  contrary  to  the  King's 
instruction^,  which  Ibrhid  any  law  to  be  eidbi'ced  on  the 
country  that  was  contrary  to  the  laws  of  the  nation — mean- 
ing that  no  law  for  taking  the  money  out  of  their  pockets 


96 


witlioiit  their  consent  hx  their  representatives,  Avas  consist- 
ent with  tlie  I'ritisli  constitution.  "  Tliat  on  tlie  saine  prin- 
ciple tliat  this  order  was  imposed  tliey  niitjlit  he  recpiired  to 
maintain  tlie  jjarrisDii.  and  wliatcver  else  we  know  not.  till 
there  be  no  end;  Imt  if  it  may  appeal-  to  us  that  it  is  the 
Kiiiir's  ahsohite  orcU-r  to  im|io>c  tiic  said  hiirdt'iis.  iuid  dis- 
privileji'e  us,  contrary  to  lii~  foniifi-  i:do(l  intciitioiis  and  in- 
structions, and  contrary  to  the  lihcitii's  his  majoty's subjects 
enjoy  in  all  his  territories  and  dominions,  we  shall,  with 
patience,  rest  under  the  said  burdens  imtil  address  be  made 
to  the  king  for  relief.'" 

The  votes  of  Flushing  and  Hempstead  have  not  been  dis- 
covered, but  there  is  no  doubt  they  were  to  the  like  effect. 
The  constables  of  i'ln-hini:-,  1  Icnip-tcad.  and  .laiuaica,  laid 
the  resolutions  of  tlicir  rc>pi'cti\c  to\\  ll>  before  the  ell-uillg 
court  of  sessions  of  tlie  iioi-th  riiling.  held  at  Jamaica  ;  liut 
it  seems  that  the  court  ilid  not  ait  on  them.  They  then  laid 
them  before  the  court  of  >(->ioii>  of  the  west  riding,  which 
met  the  next  week,  l)eceml>er  iM-l.  It'i7<'.  at  ( i  i-a\  c-eiid. 
That  court,  under  the  intliience  of  the  -ecretai'y  of  the  colony 
who  presided,  and  a  nieiid)er  of  the  council,  after  exaiiiin- 
ing  the  writings  containing  the  proceed ini:--  of  the  >aid 
towns,  adjudged  "That  the  said  papers  were  in  themselves 
scandalous,  illegal,  and  seditious,  tending  only  to  disaf- 
fect  all  the  peaceable  and  well-meaning  subjects  of  his 
majesty  in  these  his  royal  highness'  territories  and  domin- 
ions." And  the  court  further  ordered  "  that  the  said  papers 
should  be  presented  to  the  governor  in  council,  for  them  to 
proceed  oil  a~  they  shall  conceive  will  best  tend  to  the  sup- 
pression of'  tal>e  suggestions  and  jealousies  in  the  minds  of 
peaceable  and  well-meaning  subjects  in  alienating  themfrom 
their  duty  and  obedicnct'  to  tlie'la\v>." 

Agreeably  to  this  illegal  order,  the  }iapers  were  presented 
to  Cxovernor  Lovelace,  and  were  by  him  and  his  council  ad- 
judged to  the  flames,  and  ordered  to  be  publicly  burnt  be- 
fore the  town  house  of  the  city,  at  the  next  mayor's  court  to 
be  held  there.'" 

Of  the  lieconquest  of  the  Colomj  hij  the  Dutch. 

During  the  war  between  the  Knglish  and  the  Dutch, 
which  continued  from  1672  to  Feln  iiai-y  HiT-l-,  the  Dutch 
attempted  to  recover  their  aiithoi  Ii  \  in  this  countiy.  For 

*  It  was  this  sage  and  humane  Governor  l.m  .  hu  e  u  Im,  as  Smith  in  history  of  New-Jersey 
informs  us,  in  IGCS  wrote  to  Sir  Robert  Carr,  wlu)  wastlnTi  in  uutlmrily  there,  that  the  best 
method  to  keep  the  people  in  order  was  "to  lay  such  taxes  on  them  as  may  not  give  them 
liberty  to  entertain  any  other  thoughts  but  how  to  discharge  them." 


97 


this  purpose  they  sent  a  small  squadron  with  troops  to  retake 
i^ew-York. 

They  arrived  July  30th,  1673,  and  the  comuiandant  of 
the  fort  most  cowardly  surrendered  it  to  them  without  tiring 
a  grin  or  makinj;'  any  kind  of  defence. 

The  comniandei's  of  the  squadron  appointed  Captain 
Anthony  Colve  to  be  governor  of  the  colon\',  who  immedi- 
ately set  about  reinstating  the  Dutch  government. 

August  14,  1()73,  he  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  several 
towns  on  Long-Island,  requiring  each  of  them  to  send  two 
deputies  to  New- York,  with  full  powers  to  make  their  sub- 
mission to  the  states  general  and  the  prince  of  ( )range  on 
behalf  of  the  town. 

The  Dutch  towns,  and  the  English  towns  that  were  set- 
tled under  tlie  Dutch,  submitted  to  the  new  government. 
The  English  towns  seem  at  first  to  have  paid  some  attention 
to  the  proposals  of  the  governor,  l)ut  soon  (k'cliiied  them. 

October  1st,  1073,  the  Dutch  governor  sent  AVilliam  Knyff 
and  Anthony  Malypart  to  the  English  towns,  requiring  them 
to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance.  Oysterbay  complied  ;  Hunt- 
ington and  Brookhaven  offered  to  sign  an  agreement  to  be 
faithful  to  the  Dutch  government,  but  refused  to  take  any 
oath  that  would  bind  them  to  take  up  arms  against  the  crown 
of  Great-Britain. 

The  three  eastern  towns  declined  any  conqn-omise,  and 
sent  deputies  to  Connecticut  to  solicit  that  colony  to  take 
them  under  her  jurisdiction,  and  to  funiish  them  with  aid 
against  the  Dutch,  if  they  should  attempt  to  enforce  their 
demands. 

October  9th,  1673,  the  general  court  referred  their  appli- 
cation to  a  committee  consisting  of  the  governor,  assistants, 
and  two  others,  and  authorized  them,  with  the  concurrence 
of  ]\[assa('liusetts  and  Plymouth,  to  grant  their  request,  and 
to  (111  wliat  s]i(»iild  be  most  advantageous  to  the  mutual  benefit 
of  the  ])arties. 

The  connnittee  agreed  to  take  them  under  their  jurisdic- 
tion— erected  the  three  towns  into  a  county,  established  a 
county  court,  appointed  judges  and  such  other  civil  and  mil- 
itary officers  as  they  deemed  necessary,  and  sent  a  military 
force  to  their  aid. 

(Jctober  25th,  the  governor  sent  "William  Knyff  and 
Nicholas  Yoss  to  the  towns  of  Huntington  and  Brookhaven  ; 
and,  to  induce  them  to  comply  with  his  wishes,  promised 
them  liberty  of  conscience,  security  of  property,  the  choice 


98 


of  tlieir  ofticors,  in  tlio  same  manner  as  the  like  privilege 
liad  been  enjoyed  l»y  tlie  Dutcli,  with  the  same  share  in  the 
government  as  the  Diitcli,  and  also  consented  tliat  tlie  oath 
of  allegiance  should  he  somoditied  as  to  accomnioilate  their 
scru])les. 

Ilnntiniiton  and  Brookhaven  consented  to  yield  to  the 
wishes  of  the  <iovernor,  on  concHtiini  tliat  none  hut  tlie  ma^ris- 
trates  sliould  take  tlie  oath  i-('(|uii-cd  of  them.  This  was 
conceded,  and  those  two  town-  ^ulnnittrd  on  thu-.(>  terms. 

October  30th,  the  Dutch  rnoi'  x  nt  ('orncliii>  Stceii- 
wyck,  first  councillor,  and  two  othiM--.  td  the  (■a>tri'n  towns, 
to  persuade  them  to  com|ily  w  itii  the  -anic  term-. 

They  sailed  down  the  >ound  and  e;illed  at  Slu'lt er-Island. 
where  they  fell  in  with  Sammd  Wylli-  and  ( "attain  Wiiithro]). 
who  had  been  sent  to  the  Island.  l>y  ( '(Hiiiectient.  le  cai'i'y 
their  resolution>  into  etfert.  Tlie  liuteli  r(imiiii--i(.ner-  v  is- 
ited St)nthold,  ami  lound  the  lienple  a--emlile(l  ali'l  ill  arms. 
They  offered  to  take  iheii'  -iilimi-^iMn  in  w  rit  iiii;-.  ainl  To  ac- 
cept of  the  oath  of  alle- iaiu-e  iV-mi  the  ma-  i-t  rates.  The 
people  of  that  town,  huwrser.  i-efii-iMl  all  maimer  ut'sulunis- 
sion,  and  the  commissioners  ri'tiirned  without  effecting'  the 
object  of  their  mission. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  ijovernor  of  Connecticut  wrote  to 
the  Dutch  governor,  and  remonstrated  against  his  attempt- 
ing to  extend  his  jurisdiction  over  the  Ln<rlish  towns  that 
never  had  been  >nliieet  te  the  1  )uteh  Li'uvei-iiment.  Thi>  pro- 
duced a  ea[itioii-  e(i|-re-|M)iideiice  bi'tweeii  tlie  \  \\i>     >  veri  loi's. 

The  Dutch  -..veninr  uiiderto„k  to  reduce  tlie  ea>tern 
towns  by  fuivi'.  ami  ( 'Miiiieeticnt  assisted  them  tn  repel  his 
attempts.  The  1  )utch  threes  sailed  down  the  xuiiid  tow  ards 
the  ea-t  end  >,{'  the  Island,  and  attempted  >e\-eral  de>cents, 
hut  etlected  nothing  e.Kcept  the  collection  of  a  >um  of  iiionev 
of^'athaniel  Sylvester  of  Shelter  1  dand.  for  the  property 
of  his  brother  (Constant  Syl\ c-tcr.  and  'idiunia>  Miildletoii. 
which  the  Dutch  governor  had  ille-ally  eoiiti>cated  and  >old 
to  him." 

November  20th,  1G73,  ('onuecticut.  in  conjunction  with 
her  confederates,  declared  war  ai;'ain-t  the  |)iitc|i.and  made 
preparations  to  commence  h<'-tile  Mpi  rati.ni-  in  the  -priiig. 

*  Trumbull,  in       hKioi-v  of  ('nMiiTt;,-iii  !(,•  lh;r,i,  ilj-iiimr^i  ri,.  ..i.ti_-rn 

towns  with  desinir'  .    ■  ,,  .,.i  -  «  .  ,i  i        1,   i.ithe 

states  general :  .1.  .  .  n-l  ..i  11,.  M.md, 
and  made  sevtT.,  :  ,  1  1  .  >  u  1.:  1  >  Con- 
necticut, they  « .  ,1   :  ,  l-I.L) 

October  14tli.  l'.,.',  lu.  ..1..  1,1  r,,.,,!  ..|  1    i;,  ui  rgiini..:.!  MajoL^  Tru:it  public  Ihanks  for 

his  good  conduct  in  delending  the  colony  and  ilie  towns  on  Long-Island  against  the  Dutch,  and 
for  his  subsequent  services. 


99 

The  Dntcli  governor  seems  to  have  been  alarmed  at  these 
preparations.  March  2Tth,  1674,  he  ordered  all  vessels  to 
be  removed  to  a  particular  place,  lest  they  should  hinder  the 
defen(;e  of  the  citv,  and  made  provision  for  the  transporta- 
tion of  the  inhabitants  of  the  neighbouring  villages  "in 
case  of  an  attack." 

Peace  was  concluded  in  Europe  February  9th,  1674,  and 
the  news  ot  it  suspended  hostilities,  although  no  official  ac- 
couTit  ot  it  was  received  till  several  months  afterwards. 

By  the  treaty,  all  conquests  were  to  be  restored  to  their 
toniK'i'  owiKMs;  l)ut.  no  jierson  being  sent  to  receive  the 
surrcihlci-  (if  till'  cdltiiiy,  t!ic  liritish  government  was  not  re- 
iii>t;itc'(l  until  the  ensuing  full. 

Tlie  jieople  of  Southold,  Southampton,  and  Eastliampton, 
di-eaded  the  prospect  of  a  return  to  the  duke's  government, 
ami  determined  to  use  their  utmost  efibrts  to  resist  it.  They 
accordingly  chose  delegates  and  sent  them  to  Connecticut, 
to  solicit  tiieir  continuance  under  the  protection  and  gov- 
ernment of  that  colony. 

Mav  llrth,  167-t,  the  general  court  took  their  application 
into  consideration,  and  consented  tliat  they  should  continue 
in  association  with  that  colony,  with  tlie  same  jirivilcgcs  as 
othei-  towns,  as  far  as  was  in  their  power  to  make  the  gi'ant. 

The  general  court  also  appointed  or  re-appointed  Captain 
John  1  oungs,  Captain  John  Howel,  and  Mr.  John  ]\rulford, 
judges  of  the  county  court,  and  appointed  Samuel  Wyllis, 
John  Talc. lit,  and  the  secretary,  or  any  two  of  them,  to  go 
over  to  the  Inland  to  order  and  settle  the  afiairs  of  the  i>eo- 
ple  there,  and  to  establish  such  military  officers  among  them 
as  they  >honld  judge  necessary. 

June  Km'K  tlie  town  of  Easthamjiton  aiijH  linted  a  com- 
mittee w  li.i  Wi  re  (.r(lei'e(l.  in  conjunction  w  ith  Southani]>ton 
and  Sdutliold,  to  [letition  the  king  to  suffer  them  to  euntinue 
under  the  jurisdiction  ot'  ( 'oiinecticut. 

The>e  ti'>wn>  coutiuned  attached  to  Connecticut  wdien  the 
colony  was  restored  to  the  duke  of  York. 

Of  th<  r<slui'i(fioji  (if  tin:  Duke's  Government. 
After  the  conclusion  of  peace  June  29th,  1674,  the  duke 
of  York,  to  remove  all  doubt  respecting  his  title,  obtained  a 
new  patent  for  the  territories  which  had  heen  granted  to  him, 
by  the  patent  of  March  12th,  fCCi,  and  shortly  after  ap- 
pointed Major,  afterwai'ds  Sir  Edmund  Andross,  governor 
of  his  territories  in  America. 

31 


100 


()ctnl)or  ;51st,  1074,  Sir  Edinuiid  arrived  !it  New  York  re- 
ceived the  surrender  of  the  c-(jh)iiy  from  the  Dutch  autliori- 
ties  and  reinstated  tlie  duke's  former  system  of  government. 
Sir  E(hiiund  immediately  sent  to  tlie  three  eastern  towns, 
recjuiring  them  to  return  to  the  government  of  the  duke  of 
York. 

The  deputies  of  the  three  towns  sent  a  memorial  to  the 
governor,  in  which  they  state  "that,  by  the  aid  furnished 
tiiem  by  the  kindness  of  Connecticut,  they  had  i  (']icll(  il  tlie 
Dutch  I  tliat  they  had  joined  them  and  come  umli  r  t  -dv- 
ernment;  tliat  that  u-ovennncMit  had  appointiMl  huth  llieir 
civil  and  military  uliiivr>;  that  tlicy  h;i(l  !>,•(■,, inc  l.ound  by 
oath  to  that  culuny.  aii<l  cduld  wot  dis-nlvc  the  connexion 
without  their  a| i| >!•« >1  latiun." 

November  1  7th.  the  iieuple  of  Southold,  by  avote  of  their 
town-meetin--,  derhiivd  t liciii~el\ ••  t,i  be  imderthe  govern- 
ment of  hi>  iMai(--i  \  cmI.hin  c.r  (  Mill,,  .  ]  iriit,  and  that  they 
would  use  all  law  ful  meini--  -i  1m  >■>  >]'.\ wwu'. 

The  town         l-;:i-tli;illipt..ll  l-Urtcil  I  1 1  e  i  r  d  e]  .11 1  i  e>.  wllO 

were  appoint! '4  tc i  cwn-ulr  \\  it h  i  li' i-e  t he  ot hci'  Imwh-.  w  hat 
course  tliey  shoidd  take  "  to  see  that  all  law  ful  endeavours 
be  put  forth  to  the  utmost  for  our  continuance  under  that 
government." 

November  18,  1674,  the  governor  and  council  ordered 
that  a  messenger  be  again  sent  to  the  three  towns,  recpiiring 
them  to  restore  the  former  ovei'-cci'-  and  eun-tables  to  their 
places,  "  under  the  penalty  ..r  In  in-  drrlaivd  rri.el-:"  and 
ordered  the  three  deputie>  who  r~i^ned  the  memorial  on  he- 
half  of  the  respective  towns,  to  Avit  John  Miillord.  .lolm 
Howell,  and  John  Youngs,  to  appear  and  an>wei-  In  t'oi-e 
the  council,  on  tlie  like  penalty. 

Tluis  the  endeav  our-  of  tin'  i ■a -tern  towns  to  continue  un- 
der the  jurisdiction  of  ('oiineeticut  were  unavailing,  and 
they  were  obliged,  however  reluctantly,  to  return  to  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  duke  of  York. 

Sir  Edmund  pursued  the  same  arbiti-ary  course  that  his 
predecessor  had  done. 

November  l'i;.  1<I74.  he  >n>i>ended  a  tei'in  of  the  court  of 
sessions  in  the  ea-t  i-idinu'  of  ^'o^k-!lil■e.  aii.l  ordered  the 
towns  of  1 1  lint  i  nut  on  and  ih'ookliax  en  to  haxe  tlieir  Imsiiiess 
for  the  term  transacted  at  the  eii>nin--  eoui  t  ol'  -e--iMiis  at 
Jamaica  in  the  north  riding,  becaii-o  tiie  tlnvc  ca-tein  lowns 
had  not  returned  the  accounts  of  the  eon>tai)les  and  over- 
seers of  those  towns  according  to  his  orders. 


101 


In  April,  lAsi,  the  same  2;<>veninr  arbitrarily  summoned 
Isaac  Piatt,  I''|ieiietu>  I'hitt,  Saiiuicl  Titus,  Jonas  Wood,  and 
Thomas  Wicks,  iuliuhitaiits  of  liiiiitiii,i;-ton,  to  IN'ew  York, 
ami  (  allied  tlieui  to  be  imprisoned  without  trial  and  without 
liciiiu'  chargeable  with  any  legal  offence,  but  as  is  supposed 
merely  for  having  attended  a  meeting  of  delegates  of  the 
several  towns  for  the  purpose  of  con ti'ixiiig  ilic  means  of 
procuring  a  redress  of  grievances.  Sir  EdmumI  seems  short- 
ly after  to  have  left  the  colony.  June  29,  1681,  Anthony 
Broekholst  presided  in  the  court  of  assize  as  commander  in 
chief. 

Of  the  jird  Colony  Assemhlij. 

June  29,  1681,  the  grand  jury,  at  a  special  court  of  assize, 
in  which  Anthony  I!rockhol>r  ]ne>iile(l,  presented  the  want 
of  a  general  assembly,  as  a  grievance,  and  the  court  a])])oint- 
ed  Captain  John  Youngs,  the  higli  >lieriff  of  "^'oi'k^liire,  to 
draw  a  petition,  to  be  sent  to  the  duke  of  ^'ork,  for  the 
privilege;  which  he  did,  and  it  was  -igne(l  the  clei'k.  l)y 
order  of  the  court,  and  forwarded  to  hi-  ro\  aI  hi-iiiie<>.  who 
seems  to  have  listened  to  the  prayer  of  tiie  peliiion,  and  in- 
structed the  new  governor  to  sunnnon  a  general  assembly 
as  soon  as  he  arrived  iu  the  colony. 

Gol.  Thomas  Dongaii,  tlu;'  new  governor,  arrivi'.d  August 
27th,  1683,  and  soon  alter  i^-^ued  or(ler>  to  tlie  high  >heritf 
to  summon  tlie  frcehohjer>  of  tlie  several  ridings  to  meet, 
to  choose  re|>i'e-.eiitatives  to  meet  him  in  assembly  the  17th 
of  Octobei'  cn>uiitg. 

This  first  a-^-emhlv  met  acconlin--  to  t1ie  summons,  in  Js^ew- 
York.  (  )ctMber  ITrh'.  ICs."..  and  eh'cied  Matthia>  Xicliols,  one 
of  the  repiVM>iirati\c>  troin  New  ^■ork,  their  speaker. 

Tlie  assendd  V.  at  their  tii'~t  >e>-ioii.  a(hii.ted  a  lull  of  rights, 
established  com-t>  of  justice, I'ejiealed  >ome  of  the  most  ob- 

*  By  the  act  of  October  29th,  16S3,  a  court  was  establislied  in  every  town,  for  the  trial  of 
causes  of  debt  and  trespass  under  4tts.,  to  be  hokien  the  first  Wednesday  of  every  month,  by 
three  persons  commissioned  for  that  purpose,  without  a  jury  unless  demanded  by  one  of  tlie 
parties,  and  then  to  be  granted  at  the  expense  of  the  party  demanding  it. 

By  an  act  of  1C84,  the  commissioners  were  to  be  chosen  by  the  several  towns,  and  the  court 
miglit  be  holden  by  any  two  of  them. 

By  an  act  of  November  4th,  16S5,  tlie  jurisdiction  of  the  court  was  raised  to  ,£5. 

By  an  act  of  May  Gth,  1091,  the  jiower  of  holding  this  court  was  vested  in  the  justices  of  tlie 
peace.  The  justice  of  each  town,  on  the  hearing  of  a  cause,  was  required  to  take  to  his  assist- 
ance a  freeholder  of  the  town,  and  the  jurisdiction  of  the  court  was  restricted  to  40s.,  with  a. 
jury  at  the  expense  of  the  party  requiring  it. 

By  the  ordinance  of  May  15th,  1099,  every  justice  of  the  peace  was  authorized  with  the 
assistance  of  a  freeholder  of  the  town,  to  hear,  tr.v  and  determine,  all  causes  of  debt  and  tres- 
pass, to  the  value  of  40s.  and  under,  without  a  jury. 

By  an  act  of  December  16th,  173T,  the  same  jurisdiction  was  given  the  justices  of  the  peace 
of  tlie  several  towns,  without  the  assistance  of  a  freeholder. 

By  an  act  of  December  16th,  1T5S,  the  jurisdiction  of  the  justices  was  extended  to  causes  of 
the  value  of  £5  and  under,  which,  by  an  act  of  December  20th,  1T63,  was  continued  to  January 
1st,  liTO. 


102 


noxious  of  tlie  duko's  laws,  altered  ami  aineuded  others,  and 
passed  such  new  laws  as  tliey  judi:-ed  lliat  the  circmiistaiu'es 
of  the  colony  required. 

This  assenililv  had  another  ses>inn  in  O.-toI.er,  1084.  At 
tliat  session  they  aholi^-hed  the  eoiii-t  of  a»ize,  made  further 
alterations  in  the  duke's  hiws,  and  enacted  several  new 
ones. 

A  new  assend)l_v  was  snn:n:one(l  in  Septemher,  KIS.").  and 
met  at  New-Vork  the  eii~uin-'  (  )i-toK(T.  and  eho-e  AVilliam 
Pinhorne  their  speaker,  'i'hi^  a^:-enl!)ly  pa>>ed  ^ev(  lal  at-ts, 
among  which  were  the  two  following-,  to  wit :  An  act,  passed 


An  act  of  May  lOtli.  ITfiP,  extended  the  jurisdiction  of  this  court  to  cases  of  the  value  of 
£10  and  uiicUT.'wIii-ii  .lUallnued  Ij.v  the  king,  December  9th,  1770,  and  publislied  liere 
Maicli4tli,  1771   "l.i-ii  i  tin-  act  of  1737. 

Marcli  P.'ih,  ITTi'.  m   i.  (         j.assed,  extending  the  jurisdiction  of  this  court  to  i5,  which 


pleas,  and  general  i 
in  those  counties. 
lU  c  I 


bUSlIK'^-      '  :    :    i      '  '  I.'  !    .1     ll  .^TiH  I'll  ILii-lil  l.r  .nriyli,litU  nr.M   I, ^lii.'l.ini'  

continui  il,  uiiIm.hi  ;u]\  material  alleration  e.\cepl  in  the  times  of  liolding  tiie  courts  in  the  sev- 
eral counties,  until  the  revolution. 

0/  me  Supreme  Conn. 
By  the  act  of  October  29th.  1683,  a  court  of  general  jurisdiction  was  established,  called  a 
court  of  oyer  and  terminer  and  general  gaol  delivery,  with  power  to  remove  all  causes  and 
judgments  over  £5  from  inferior  courts,  and  to  examine,  correct  or  reverse,  the  same ;  to  be 


103 


NoveniTter  4tli,  1(1'~!5,  for  rejjiilatiiia:  the  profpedinn:^  of 
luoiitlily  courts  tlir((U<i-liout  the  ]ir(iviiice.  l)y  which  the  juris- 
diction of  tlie  court  was  extended  to  xT) ;  and  an  act,  jiassed 
November  7th,  1(585,  for  removing  tlie  court  of  sessions  of 
Kings  county  from  Gravesend  to  Fhxtbusli. 

There  is  no  evidence  that  this  asseinhly  ever  met  again, 
or  that  any  other  was  summoned,  except  one  hy  lA'iskn-, 
during  liis  exercise  of  snpreme  power,  until  the  arrival  of  a 
governor  under  William  and  Mary  in 

Charles  II.  died  February  6th,  1085,  and  the  duke  of 
York  succeeded  him  by  the  title  of  James  II ;  and,  as  he 

holden  by  a  judpe  and  four  justices  of  the  peace,  to  be  commissioned  for  tliat  purpose  in  each 
respective  county  once  in  every  year.  Either  by  a  law  or  an  ordinance  in  16Si,  two  judges 
were  appointed  to  hold  this  court. 

Uy  an  act,  passed  in  16S4,  £202  10s.  was  raised  for  the  payment  of  the  salaries  of  the  judges 
of  this  court. 

In  U'lS.')  Matthias  Nicliols  and  ,Iohn  Palmer  presided  in  this  court  in  Queen-  r  iwnt; , 

Ily  the  Met  of  May  (>th,  IGlll,  a  supreme  court  was  established,  to  eon-l-'  i  iii<tice 
and  ftiur  juil^M's.  t\\  (t  of  whom  with  the  chief  justice  to  fonii  a  quoruiu,  \\  i  ■  -  n  n  of  all 
cases.  ei\il.  criminal  and  mixed,  as  fully  and  amply  as  the  courts  of  lun^  -  i  i,  ^  ..ninion 
pleas  arid  excliei|Uei-,  witliin  their  majesties'  kingdom  of  Kiigland,  have  or  nn^lit  to  haie  ;  to  be 
held  at  the  city  liall  ol  lie-  rit\  ot  New-York,  on  ttie  first  Tuesday  of  April  and  October,  nei- 
ther term  to  continn-  ion,-  i  idan  ei^'lit  days,  with  pow  er  also,  by  writ  of  certiorari  or  otherwise, 
to  correct  the  deei-ion-  of  inl'  i  ioi-  ecjurts. 

By  an  act  of  lUHJ,  tlie  jml^'es  were  required  to  hold  a  circuit  once  a  year  in  each  county  in 
the  colony.    In  a  short  time  the  number  of  judges  was  reduced  to  three. 

By  the  ordinance  of  May  15th,  1699,  the  same  arrangement  of  the  supreme  court  and  circuits 
was  aiio])ted,  as  was  established  by  the  acts  of  1691  and  '92,  except  that  the  terms  were  limited 
to  five  davs:  and  the  times  of  holding  the  circuits,  and  courts  of  over  and  terminer,  were 
fixed. 

By  an  ordinance  of  April  3d,  1704,  the  supreme  court  was  required  to  hold  four  terms,  which 
were  to  commence  respectively  on  the  first  Tuesilays  of  .Tune  and  September,  and  on  tlie  sec- 
ond Tuesdays  of  March  and  October;  and  to  continue  five  days  each. 

By  an  ordinance,  April  1.5th,  1715,  the  .September  t( 
commence  the  first  Tuesday  in  June  and  the  last  Tues 
days  of  March  and  October  ;  each  to  continue  five  days. 

By  an  ordinance  of  March  19tb,  1732,  the  terms  were  ordered  to  commence  on  the  third 
Tuesdays  of  .laiuiarv,  Ai.ril  an.l  October,  and  on  the  last  Tm^sdav  of  .lulv. 

By  an  oiMini.nr,-,  .\u-u>t  liih,  IT.".",  it  «-a<  nrdere.l  iliat  fh.'  .lanniirv  and  .Tulv  terms  continue 
till  Satnrcla\  ol  tli..-  -aliie  week  ;  a)id  lliat  the  Api'il  and  Ortoli,_T  t.a  nis  continue  till  the  end  of 
Thur-.l)n  in  llie  s.  r,,n,l 

Hx  an  oi,1ii,m,  I  '  i.i  nl  mi-  Ttl,,  1  Ttil ,  it  was  ordered  that  the  .lanua.v  an.l  .lulv  t.Man^  con- 
tinn.-      I..  •  ...   1  '       ■  ii.i        iimilay  of  the  same  wrek  ;  and  that  ,)„■   \,„n  ,:  .-toher 

t,,rn!-        i  :     ■  •  ni,.  H  lay  of  the  second  week,    i  hir  ,„  na.ic  .  ,|  : )  ,     ,,  ,^  -  .lir.-ct- 

,■,1  hi  h..M      .   :.a,:;a  : , '  i '  \  .  I  o  trv  all  CaUSCS  broM  -  h  I  I  o  I  ■  -  n .  ■  n  i  1 1 1 .      n    ■  ,1]  and 

the  com  t  nil  jlil  r  jnn-na  nl  in  the  next  or  any  subsei|nenl  linn,  to  \ir  IimMcm  loi  my  lime 
not  exceeding  six  ilays  ;  the  time  of  holding  the  circuit  courts  lo  be  tixed  hy  rule  at  the  term 
next  preceding. 

This  arrangement  of  the  supreme  court  continued  till  the  revolution,  and  was  recognized  by 
the  constitution. 

Of  tlie  Court  of  Chancery. 

By  the  act  of  November  29th,  16S-3,  the  governor  and  coiuicil 
chancery,  with  an  appeal  to  the  king.  The  governor  was  .author 
other  officers. 

By  the  act  of  Ma\  r.th,  li;:il,  the  same  arrangement  a.lo|.h- 
By  the  ordinaiu  1  ,„iMa- '.M,  I7nl,the  powers,,!  ,l,an,-,.l 


,ir,iinances,  regulating  the  fees  of  the  dillerent  courts,  having  expired, 
,1  bv  an  ordinance  of  April  loth,  1768. 

32 


104 


determined  to  have  as  little  to  do  witli  parliaments  as  pos- 
sible, so  it  is  ])rol)able  that  he  revoked  the  power  wliich  he 
had  f^iven  to  his  <;overnors  to  call  assemblies,  and  deter- 
mined that  they  should  rule  the  colony  by  his  instructions 
alone,  without  admitting  the  people  to  any  participation  in 
the  public  councils. 

Duriilii-  the  reifjn  of  James  II.,  tlie  rights  of  the  people, 
civil  an(i  religious,  were  sacrificed  in  the  claims  of  the  ]u-e- 
rogative  and  the  bigotry  of  the  king.  His  govcrnuis  re- 
sembled their  master  in  their  religious  and  ]i(iliti(  ;il  prin- 
ciples, and  seem  to  have  studiiMl  tn  imitate  him  in  tlieir 
contempt  of  the  rights  of  the  |h  m|,|c. 

In  1686  or  '87.  (Tovernor  Dmi-aii,  w  ith  his  cnuiicil,  ]iassed 
an  act  for  levying  a  tax  of  a  lialt' penny  in  the  ])()nnd  for 
colony  exi)eiises.  Tliis  was  Sd  Hagraiit  a  viohition  of  the 
princiides  lield  inviolable  by  the  people  of  Long-Island,  that 
it  is  not  believed  that  the  hiw  was  ever  executed. 

Novembei'  18th.  lf)8<!.  (Tovernoi"  Dongan  Issued  a  warrant 
to  a  messeiiu'er.  \n  li;i\c  ^^r.  .l;mie-.  the  ininl-tri'  uf  East- 
hampton,  befoi'e  llie  i-oiiin-il  tli;il  day  foM n i- 1 1 1 .  lo  answer 
for  a  sermon  which  he  liad  preached  the  17th  of  the  preced- 
ing month,  in  which  he  had  uttered  sentiments  which  did 
not  suit  the  governor  or  his  friends. 

The  governor,  with  the  advice  of  the  council,  had  the 
disposition  of  the  public  lands.  No  purchase  could  be  made 
■without  his  license,  and  no  ])urchase  was  of  any  avail  unless 
contiriiicd  by  iiatnit.  ami  tor  these  they  charged  such  sums 
as  their  avarice  dictati'd. 

The  fees  of  patents  constituted  the  principal  perquisites 
of  the  governor,  and  the  quit-reuts  charged  on  them  pro- 
duced no  incoii>iderable  revenue  to  the  crown.  The  inter- 
est which  the  i:ii\eriior  liad  ill  tli(>e  oi)ei-att'd  a-  an  iinhice- 
ment  to  multiply  tlie  ininilier  of  patents,  and  t(j  CJilarge  the 
quit-rents  as  much  a-  pM^-ible. 

In  1685,  the  governor  i-sued  a  patent  for  lands  in  the 
town  of  Huntington,  which  in  1075  had  been  adjudged  by 
the  court  of  assize  to  be  w  ithin  the  limits  of  the  original 
patent  of  that  town. 

In  1B8G,  he  ordered  the  ]H'ople  of  that  town  to  purchase 
the  lands  within  the  town  which  had  not  been  purchased  of 
the  Indians,  in  order  that  they  might  be  compelled  to  take 
out  new  patents  for  them. 

The  original  patent  of  Huntington  was  made  subject  to 
such  (piit-rent  as  should  be  afterwards  iixed,  and  the  amount 


105 


whicli  tliat  sliould  be  became  a  subject  of  altercation  be- 
tween the  people  of  tliat  town  and  tlie  governor.  To  com- 
pel them  to  consent  to  its  being  fixed  agreeable  to  his 
wishes,  Grovernor  Dongan,  in  1686,  seized  their  patent,  and 
before  he  would  consent  to  grant  a  confirmation  of  it,  they 
were  obliged  to  agree  to  raise  £29  4s.  7d.  in  satisfaction  of 
their  quit-rent,  and  for  the  expense  of  a  new  patent,  in  which 
the  quit-rent  was  fixed,  which  passed  the  council  August 
2d,  1688,  and  was  one  of  the  last  acts  of  his  administra- 
tion. 

In  1686,  Governor  Dongan  ordered  the  same  lands  to  be 
surveyed  in  East  Hampton,  in  order  to  dispose  of  tliem  to 
certain  persons  to  whom  the  town  had  refused  to  grant 
lands.  Some  of  the  people  published  a  protest  against  this 
proceeding,  and  on  18th  October,  1686,  he  issued  his  war- 
rant to  a  messenger,  to  have  Samuel  Mulford,  Robert  Day- 
ton, Samnel  Parsons,  Benjamin  Conklin,  Thomas  Osborn, 
and  J ohn  Osborn,  before  the  council  that  day  fortniglit,  to 
answer  the  premises. 

Most  of  the  towns  on  the  Island,  not  excepting  those  set- 
tled under  the  Dutch,  whose  lands  were  secured  by  the 
treaty  of  surrender,  were  induced  by  one  pretext  or  another 
to  take  out  new  patents ;  and  in  cases  wliere  the  quit-rent 
had  been  fixed  in  the  original  patent,  it  was  usiially  enlarged 
in  the  subsequent  one. 

The  extravagance  of  the  patent  fees  continued  to  be  a 
subject  of  complaint  during  the  colony  government.  The 
expense  of  the  last  patent  of  Huntington,  which  was  ob- 
tained at  a  subsequent  period,  amounted  to  £56  18s.  3d.,  of 
which  sum  £50  was  paid  to  the  governor  and  public  ofii- 
cers. 

11.— Of  the  Bevolution  of  1689. 

The  arbitrary  measures  of  the  Governors  of  James  II., 
the  denial  of  general  assemblies,  and  the  appointment  of 
Catholics  to  office,  alarmed  the  people  for  the  safety  of  both 
their  liberties  and  religion,  disgusted  them  with  the  govern- 
ment, and  prepared  them  to  welcome  tlie  revolution  in 
favour  of  William  and  Mary,  which  promised  a  new  era  in 
favour  of  civil  and  religious  libert}^,  and  which  terminated 
in  the  fall  of  1688  in  the  expulsion  of  James  II.  from  the 
throne,  and  forever  put  an  end  to  his  authority. 

The  friends  of  despotic  power  in  England  had  long  con- 
sidered that  the  charters  of  the  Jfew-England  colonies 


106 


•jrantefl  tooinucli  lihcrtyto  tlic  ]>('o])le  ;  iiiid  it  liad  hopn  for 
some  time  tlie  intention  of  the  crown  to  revolve  tlieiii  atid 
make  them  royal  i;overnments. 

Cliarles  II.,  in  liis  life  time,  liad  made  some  efforts  for  this 
purjiose  in  relation  to  IVIassachusetts  ;  and  James  II.,  as  soon 
as  he  ascended  the  throne,  detei-mined  to  carry  this  purpose 
into  effect. 

In  accordance  with  this  (letermination,  in  ItiSd  the  char- 
ters of  the  New  England  colonies  were  revoked  or  sus- 
pended, and  Sir  Edmund  Andross  was  appointed  governor 
(jf  New-England. 

In  the  s])ring  of  1688,  New- York  was  added  to  his  gov- 
ermnent.  July  28th,  1088,  an  oi-der  of  the  king  was  read 
in  the  council  of  New-York,  direct iiii;-  Cul.  Dungan,  the 
governor,  to  deliver  the  seal  of  the  [iroN  im-c  to  Sir  Ivliniiiul 
Andross.  He  shortly  after  visited  New-York  and  assuiued 
the  government. 

August  25tli,  he  issued  new  commissions  to  the  civil  offi- 
cers of  Kings  and  Queens  counties. 

On  his  return  to  Boston,  the  affairs  of  N^ew-York  were 
conducted  by  Nicholson,  the  lieutenant  governor,  and 
council. 

It  is  supposed  that  C<>1.  Dongan  immediately  retiivd  to 
his  farm  as  a  private  cit i/cii.  where  lie  remained  nntil  the 
spring  of  1090  or  longer.  hetMi'e  lie  K'ft  the  couiitrv. 

The  news  of  tlie  aec  —  ioii  of  WiUiani  and  M,-'iry  to  the 
throne  reached  l!ii-toii  ill  Ajii'il  lUMi.  and  the  jieople  innne- 
diately  i'o>e,  >ei/.ed  the  gos-ei'iior.  wlio>e  tyi'ainiy  had  become 
intolerable,  and  imprisoned  liiiu.  whei'e  they  detei'mined  to 
detain  him  till  tliey  could  hear  from  Knizland. 

The  new>  of  the  proceedings  in  i!n-ton  prompted  cei-tain 
persons  in  Xe\\-Y<.rk.  who-e  zeal  or  ambition  ua-  to<,  ini- 
patient  of  delay  to  await  the  changes  which  wouM  neces- 
sarily have  succeeded  the  revolution  in  Mngland.  to  w  rest 
the  government  out  of  the  hands  of  jSTichoUon.  tlu'  lieuten- 
ant governor. 

May  31st,  Capt.  Jacob  LcisU'r  jmt  himself  at  the  head  of 
the  party,  seized  the  fort  and  kept  po-.-.e~>ii,n  of  it.  .lime 
3d,  he  was  joined  by  the  other  ca]'t  ain-  ^.f  the  militia,  with 
their  companies.  They  innnediately  i>-iied  a  proelaniat ion, 
stating  that  their  intention  in  seizing  the  fort  wa-  to  kicpit 
for  king  William,  and  that  they  would  surreinler  it  to  the 
governor  who  should  be  appointed  by  him.  Nicholson  im- 
mediately retired  aboard  a  vessel,  and  returned  to  England. 


107 


June  12tli,  Leisler  and  liis  friends  wrote  to  the  several  towns 
on  Long-Island,  inviting  them  to  send  two  men  from  each 
county  to  meet  the  deputies  of  the  other  counties  at  Isew- 
York,  on  tlie  26th  instant,  to  form  a  committee  of  safety, 
and  also  to  send  two  men  from  each  town  to  assist  in  guard- 
ing the  fort. 

It  is  supposed  that  Kings  and  Queens  complied  with  the 
request,  although  there  was  a  jjowerful  opposition  in  Queens 
to  the  measure. 

The  several  towns  in  Suffolk  met  by  their  deputies  at 
Southampton,  June  20th,  where  a  majority  of  them  refused 
to  send  deputies  to  New- York,  and  immediately  opened  a 
negotiation  with  Connecticut,  and  made  another  unsuccess- 
ful effort  to  put  themselves  under  the  jurisdiction  of  that 
colony,  the  laws  and  institutions  of  which  were  more  con- 
genial with  their  ideas  of  good  government  than  those  of 
any  royal  province. 

The  counties  of  Albany  and  Ulster  also  refused  to  co- 
operate with  Leisler,  or  to  send  deputies  to  the  general 
meeting. 

Most  or  all  of  the  other  counties,  it  is  supposed,  sent  their 
depiities  to  New-York. 

The  committee  of  safety,  which  met  at  New- York,  June 
26th,  1689,  gave  Leisler  the  superintendance  of  things,  and 
he  managed  the  public  affairs  according  to  their  advice  till 
the  ensu.ing  fall. 

In  December,  letters  were  received  from  England,  directed 
to  "  Francis  Nicholson,  or  in  his  absence  to  sucli  as  for  the 
time  being  take  care  for  preserving  the  peace  and  adminis- 
tering the  laws  in  their  majesty's  province  of  New- York,  in 
America,"  and  authorizing  Nicholson  "  to  take  upon  him 
the  chief  command,  and  to  appoint  for  his  assistance  as 
many  of  the  principal  freeholders  and  inhabitants  as  he 
should  think  tit." 

Leisler  chose  to  consider  these  letters,  in  the  absence  of 
Nicholson,  as  addressed  to  himself,  and  immediately  assumed 
the  title  and  power  of  lieutenant  governor.  He  selected  a 
council,  appointed  public  officers  in  the  several  counties,  and 
commis>ii)iKMl  them  in  his  own  name,  and  demanded  an  en- 
tire suliniissiou  to  his  authority. 

He  demanded  the  possession  of  the  fort  at  Albany  from 
the  magistrates,  who  vowed  their  intention  to  keep  it  for 
king  Will  iam,  and  were  as  zealous  for  the  revolution  as 
hinaself,  and  quite  as  disinterested.  He  exerted  the  patrou- 
33 


108 


age  of  liis  station  to  reconcile  tliose  parts  of  tlie  colony  that 
■ncre  disaffected  with  his  authority,  before  he  proceeded  to 
enforce  it. 

While  Leisler  was  thus  engaged  in  contriving  means  to 
secure  his  power,  the  defence  of  the  colony  was  neglected, 
in  consequence  of  which  the  town  of  Schenectady,  Febru- 
ary the  8th,  lf)90,  fell  a  sacrifice  to  the  barbarity  of  the 
French  and  Indians. 

In  the  spring  of  1690,  Leisler  wrested  the  fort  at  Albany 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  magistrates,  and  confiscated  the 
property  of  such  as  had  0])]">-c<l  hi-  h.iviii;^-  tlic  fcit.  and 
had  fled  from  the  province  to  i--i-,\\<r  hi-  I'ocnt nicnt ,  ;iihI  lie 
imprisoned  others,  who  questioiuMl  the  iL'gality  i>i'  hi>  aiithur- 
ity,  or  the  propriety  of  his  measures. 

lie  summoned  a  general  assembly  in  the  spring  of  16i)0, 
probalilx'  til  procure  supplies  t'orthc  jirotccrion  nfthc  tVoiiticrs, 
which  iiM't  ill  New-York  the  1' II  !i  ot'  A  pril.  ami  clK.-e.lolin 
Spratt  iheir  -pcakei'.  It  is  iml  known  that  any  thing  was 
done  at  thi-  niect  iiii;-. 

They  were  mm.h  proi-ogiiod  to  the  first  of  September.  'No 
members  atteinleil  tVoiii  Siitfolk,  Albany  and  Tlster ;  and 
one  tVoiii  NewA'urk.  ami  one  fmni  ( Jueen>.  ret'u-ed  t"  -ei've  ; 
so  that  it  ciiiild  not  have  consisted  of  more  than  eight  or 
nine  iiiriiiln'r-. 

May  Ul.  ICi'.M).  an  enter])rise  was  concerted  with  Leisler, 
by  the  ^.'ew-l  ji-laiid  c( ih m ie-.  against  ^fonti-eal,  in  co-oper- 
ation with  an  e\pe(lit  ii  111,  tip  lie  cuiiiliicted  at  the  same  time 
by  water,  by  tiie  ea-tern  colonies,  against  (^)uebec.  The 
mimber  of  troop-  -ign-ed  ..n  was  850,  of  which  -iOO  were  to 
be  furnished  by  .Xew  Adrk. 

The  enterprise  was  defeated  by  ],ei-ler"s  neglect'-,  m'  tlie 
neglect  of  those  under  him,  to  make  piM\  i-i(iii  liir  the  -ii[)- 
port  of  the  troops,  and  for  their  tran>poi'tation  acr(i>s  the 
lakes. 

During  this  period  the  towns  in  Suffolk  county  had  sever- 
al meetings  to  consult  about  the  course  which  it  would  be 

*  The  tif.n|..  ,v,.r.  rr.min.nHlo.l  liy  M;iior  fieneral  .Inlin  WiiHhr.ip.  .-.inirc,  who,  wlirn  lie  iip- 

proaiiii'  I   ■  ■  '  ,  r  ,.]  II,,.,,.  ,,1  ,.|  ,.  M..il  Im  r   I.M.il.   -uMM'l..rit  In  riirri   llirin,  Iniv   |  in  n  i-i,  ms  to 

fUiMi.H'  ■     .   '  .  \  , 

Til.'  .  .i  .    ..  .  .  ,  I.  l.,.i-l,.|.  ,,:l,,  -lirl,  a 

rage,  ,    .  i,.    ,  i .  .,   .,  .  i     \i.  .  ,.|,„i,,,.,  ,|  ;,  ,,.  ,-e- 

buki-  t-                                            :  '            .         1  .   ..i  '  .      ;  "...  I    I.,  -i  I   ■■  ^"ou 

nece.--.-                                                                       ■  .  I  .  -  !  , '    i  .-    ■  .  I  ■  -  .  much 

used  !''.                                          I                   i  ..,  i:  -  ..  ,    '  ,  ,iild 

leave^l,  ;  •      .  .  ,-.  r,,      |,  i  IL-   ,..,|i-,  ,,11,  i,,-  -  1,,.  vih  ,1  (h,  V  nil. hi  ,  "If 

tor3  ol  the  major's  honour^  be  greater  than  to  ourselveii  aud  the  gentlemen  of  the  liay,  you 
may  boast  of  the  exchange  by  what  profit  you  find."  Tkcmbull's  ArrKSDix. 


109 


proper  for  them  to  pursiie,  without  oominjr  to  any  agree- 
ment. The  summons  to  clioose  assemblymen  was  received 
March  15th,  1690,  Avliicii  they  refused  to  obey. 

The  people  of  Huntington,  in  April,  1090,  signified  their 
willingness  to  recognize  the  authority  of  Leisler. 

The  people  of  Easthampton  came  to  a  resolution,  the 
third  of  May,  that  they  would  not  sulMiiit  to  Leisler,  but 
would  continue  as  tliey  were.  This  town  consented,  how- 
ever, SeptemliiT  Mth,  Itl'.td,  tliat  certain  moneys  which  they 
had  formerly  r:ii>e(l  for  ])ublic  u>e,  and  which  had  not  been 
paid  to  the  government,  should  be  paid  to  Leisler,  or  to  his 
order. 

The  county  sent  no  members  to  the  assembly,  and  does 
not  seem  to  have  been  reconciled  to  Leisler's  authority;  but 
continued  in  a  divided  and  neutral  condition  during  his  ad- 
ministration. 

Tlie  ojijio-ition  in  Queens  seems  to  have  increased,  and 
remained  in  full  vigor  in  Albany  and  Lister. 

January  1st.  Iti'.M),  Leisler  issued  a  v,arraiit  to  have  An- 
drew Gibb,  the  clerk  of  Queens  county,  lirought  before  him, 
to  answer  for  not  delivering  the  papers  belonging  to  the 
office  to  Mr.  Denton,  the  new  clerk,  whom  ne  had  ap- 
pointed. 

I'cbi  uary  15th,  he  issued  orders  to  the  sheriff,  and  to  the 
civil  and  military  officers  of  that  county,  to  secure  Col. 
Thomas  Dongan,  the  late  governor,  in  his  own  house,  and  to 
bring  Col.  Thomas  Willctt,  Capt.  Thomas  Ilicks,  Daniel 
Whitehead,  and  Kdward  Antill,  esquires,  before  the  couiu-il. 

Felii-iiarv  I'l-t.  he  issued  onlers  to  ha\e  Col.  Dongan, 
Steiihen  \'an  Cortland,  Anthony  Lrockholst.  and  Matthew 
Plownian.  esquire,  >ei/.cd  and  brought  l)etoi-e  liini. 

August  '.(th,  li'i'.Mi,  kci^ler  issued  a  proclamation,  requir- 
ing tiie  members  of  Assembly  to  meet  at  ^^ew-York  the 
first  day  of  September  ensuing,  to  which  day  they  wei'e 
prorogued. 

August  11th,  after  reciting  that  I^athaniel  Pierson,  one 
of  the  deputies  elected  to  the  assembly  for  Queens  county, 
and  Wilhelmus  Beekman,  one  of  the  deputies  from  New- 
York,  had  refused  to  serve  at  the  meeting  in  April,  he 
ordered  those  counties  respectively  to  choose  others  in  their 
room,  to  meet  with  the  deputies  of  the  other  counties,  at 
their  ensiling  session  in  September. 

Augirst  13th,  he  sent  a  summons  to  Albany,  and  probably 
to  the  other  counties  that  had  not  chosen  deputies  in  the 


110 


spring,  to  choose  dcpntios,  to  iiu'ct  with  the  other  (le])uties 
in  September.  It  docs  not  appear,  liowever,  tliat  tlie  siuu- 
mons  was  coni])lie(l  with  in  owe  of  tliose  comities. 

The  assembly  met  in  September,  by  which  the  two  fol- 
lowing acts  were  passed  : 

All  act,  passed  October  2d,  1090,  for  levying  a  tax  of 
three  pence  in  the  pound;  one  half  to  be  paid  the  I'ntli  of 
January,  and  the  (jtlier  half  the  2r)th  of  March,  ensuing. 

An  act,  passed  ()ctul)cr  Itli,  imposing  a  iiiie  of  £7(1  on 
every  person  who  should  rctii-c  tu  >cr\  (.\  iii  a  ci\  il  ov  mili- 
tary capacity,  under  ;i  cninmi~-inii  i>~ucd  by  L;'i>lcr:  also, 
imposing  a  tine  of  on  c\-cry  pcisoii  w  Im  -liould  I'rniuve 

from  the  counties  of  ^Mbaiiy  and  bbtci':  and,  in  cax's  of 
inability  to  pay  that  sum.  leaving  it  to  the  disci-ction  of 
Leisler  to  tis  the  fine ;  al>o,  ^n'ohibitiug  the  tran.-itortation 
of  goods,  except  certain  >iiecitied  ai'ticlc>.  from  the  said 
COuntie>.  under  tlie  penalty  of  tlieii-  coidix-ation. 

The  last  act  wa>  intemled  to  iv~ti'aiii  tlie  iKMiple  of  those 
counties  from  going  to  ( 'oinieei icut,  where  they  I'e-oiii'd  in 

order  to  avoid  the  |  leiveelltioll  of  Lei>U'l'  and  hi-  ollieel-,-. 

It  seems  that  the  opiio-itioi:  in  (^)ueeii>  \va-  not  ^up|ll•ess- 
ed  by  the  iiiea-iii-e-  lictore  taken  lor  that  ]Mir]io>e. 

Octohcr  jstli.  IG'.io,  Lei>ler  oi'dered  Major  Milbourn  "to 
take  -w  liat  force  he  could  raise,  to  suppress  the  opposition  in 
Queen-  county." 

October  :.^<'),  he  su>peniled  the  court  of  oyer  and  terminer, 
about  to  sit  in  King-  c.miity,  "  until  the  counties  on  Long- 
Island  should  be  re(lnccd  to  oltedience." 

October  30th,  L<'i>ler.  after  stating  that  a  rebellion  exist- 
ed in  Queens  couiit\-,  i->ne(|  order>  to  Samuel  Staat>  and 
Capt.  Thomas  AVilli'am-  -Mo  ^ui-j^re-s  it.""  Jle  al>o  oi'dered 
Thomas  AVilliam>  and  Saniiiel  Kd-dall  to  go  to  Flu-liing  bay 
to  examine  tin'  \e--cl-  there,  t.i  r-ee  that  none  were  em|iloy- 
ed  in  a  way  |.n'jiidi.-l:il  to  hi-  intere-t.     ('a]it.   Kichai'd  In- 

folsby  arrixcil  in  Xcw  ^'ork  w  ith  hi>  conijiany  tlu'  la-t  of 
anuary,  IG'Jl,  and  demanded  possession  of  the  fort,  which 
Leisler  refused ;  whiqh  added  a  new  subject  to  the  public 
contentions. 

Tlie  colony  seems  to  have  continue(l  in  this  convulsed  con- 
dition to  the  end  of  Leisler's  admini-tration. 

Lei-lei'"-  authority  was  tei'minate(l  by  the  arrival  of  Henry 
Slaughtei'.  the  ne\\'(.ovei-iior.  March 'llMh.  K')'.'!. 

He  ri'fu-i'd  to  deliver  up  the  fort  to  the  new  governor  ; 
and  thus  violated  all  his  former  protessions  of  zeal  for  King 


Ill 


William,  forfeited  ;\\]  olaiiii  to  any  merit  for  services,  and 
incurred  the  reproadi  as  well  as  the  penalty  of  usurpation. 

Leisler,  and  Millxiurn  his  son-in-law,  wci-c  tried  and  con- 
victed of  high  treason;  and  the  warrant  tui'  tlu'ii-  execution 
was  issued  by  the  advice  of  both  tlie  Cduueil  and  assembly. 

Leisler's  son  preferred  a  complaint  against  the  liovei-nor, 
which  was  referred  to  the  lords  of  trade;  wlio  reported, 
March  11th,  1692,  "that  they  were  humbly  of  opinion  that 
Jacob  Leisler  and  Jacol)  Milbourn,  deceased,  were  condemn- 
ed, and  had  suft'ere(l,  aeeoixling  to  law." 

November  12th,  lOy-1,  the  parliament,  on  the  application 
of  Leisler's  son,  reversed  their  attainder;  and,  in  compas- 
sion to  their  families,  restored  them  their  estates. 

From  the  history  of  that  period,  it  appears  that  the  revo- 
lution in  England  was  then  completed,  and  the  people  of  the 
colony  were  generally,  if  not  unaniinously  in  favour  of  it. 

The  members  of  the  council  and  tlie  lieutenant  governor 
were  friendly  to  it.  They,  however,  were  disposed  to  wait 
for  the  changes  which  they  anticii^ated,  without  disturbing 
the  public  peace  by  any  violent  measures. 

Leisler,  on  the  other  liand,  on  pretence  that  those  in  power 
were  in  the  interest  of  Iving  James,  raised  a  party  among 
those  whom  he  could  inlluence  and  control, to  expel  them  from 
office,  and  to  take  the  government  into  their  own  hands.* 

*  It  is  intimated  in  a  note  in  Hutchinson's  history  of  Massachusetts,  that  Nicholson,  the 
Lieut.  Governor,  was  well  affected  to  the  revolution,  but  that  Leisler  wished  to  wrest  the  gov- 
ernment out  of  the  hands  of  the  Lieut.  Governor,  in  order  to  evade  the  payment  of  £100, 
which  he  owed  for  duties,  or  at  least  to  avoid  paying  it  to  the  person  who  then  held  the  office 
of  collector,  who,  as  he  alleged,  was  a  papist. 

That  to  effect  his  purpose,  he  caused  it  to  be  reported  at  the  east  end  of  Long-Island  that  the 
Fort  at  New- York  was  in  danger  of  being  delivered  up  to  the  enemies  of  the  revolution,  and 
solicited  the  people  there  to  aid  in  its  reduction. 

It  is  further  stated  that  a  military  company  marched  to  Jamaica,  where  they  halted  till  the 
officers  had  an  interview  with  the  Lieut.  Governor  and  council,  who  satisfied  them  that  the  re- 
port was  unfounded,  and  they  immediately  returned  home ;  and  that  Leisler  was  forced  on 
other  false  alarms  to  induce  the  people  of  the  city  to  aid  him  in  his  enterprise. 

This  account  i.s  countenanced  by  the  records  of  Easthamplon.  May  8,  1089,  "heard  f(om 
New- York  that  the  fort  is  in  hands  wliose  fidelity  is  suspected.  Voted  that  soldiers  go  to  York 
to  assist  to  reduce  the  place,  that  it  might  be  better  secured  for  the  safety  of  the  country."  It 
was  not  till  the  31st  of  .May  that  the  militia  of  New-York  seized  the  fort,  from  which  it  is  evi- 
dent that  the  militia  of  Kusi  Hampton  must  have  performed  their  tour,  and  returned  home  be- 
fore the  seizure  of  the  Fort. 

It  was  probably  owing  to  this  intrigue  of  Leisler,  that  the  people  of  Easthampton,  who  were 
devoted  to  the  revolution,  distrusted  the  purity  of  his  motives;  and,  even  after  their  negotiation 
for  a  union  with  Connecticut  had  failed,  resolved,  on  the  3d  of  May,  1(590,  that  they  would  not 
submit  to  Leisler,  but  would  continue  as  they  were. 

The  above  representation  is  still  further  confirmed  by  the  appointment  of  Nicholson  to  the 
government  of  Virginia,  shortly  afterwards,  by  King  William,  which  shows  that  he  had  no  sus- 
picion of  his  attachment  to  the  revolution. 

That  the  excitement  in  New-York,  which  led  to  the  taking  of  the  fort  was  created  by  artifice 
and  management,  is  to  be  inferred  from  the  letter  of  Nicholson,  Phillips,  Bayard  and  Van 
Courtland,  to  the  people  of  liostcn,  dated  New-York,  May  1st,  1690,  in  which  they  state,  "  For 
this  part  of  the  government,  we  find  tlie  people  in  general  inclined  to  peace  and  quietness,  and 
doubt  not  the  people  will  remain  in  their  iluties." 

Smith  also  states,  in  his  histury,  that  Leisler,  while  he  was  contending  with  the  convention  at 
Albany  for  the  possession  of  tlie  fort  there,  in  order  to  procure  succour  from  Boston,  "  falsely 
represented  the  convention  as  in  the  interest  of  the  French  and  king  James." 

34 


112 


V>\  tlieir  assistaiico,  lie  wrested  the  fjovernment  out  of  tlie 
liainls  of  tlie  lieutenant  governor,  in  detiance  of  the  opinions 
of  those  whose  talents,  experience,  and  standino;  in  society, 
entitled  them  to  respect. 

These  were  unwi]lin<>;  to  recognize  an  authority  Avliich 
they  considered  illegitimate,  and  a— umcd  merely  to  forestal 
the  favour  of  the  new  kin-.        dei-lined  id  in  the  as- 

sembly whic^h  Leisler  suniniuned.  <ir  under  any  cuunnission 
issued  by  him. 

To  sustain  his  authority,  Leisler  had  recourse  both  to  civil 
penalties  and  military  force,  and  was  hurried  into  the  same 
exces>e>  foi-  whieli  the  former  governors  were  so  much  re- 
proached. 

It  is  not  probable  that  he  at  lirst  anticipated  the  rui'cer 
that  led  to  Ins  ruin,  but  that  he  oidy  asjiii-ed  to  ilie  .li-tiiic- 
tioii  of  liein--  ei m-idei-ed  the  tVwemost  in  hi-  /e:il  tor  the 
revoliil  i.m.  Wlim.  Ny  the  delay  of  tln'  go\ei'noi-">  arrival, 
and  the  jiarl  iiilil  \  of  hir-  friends,  lie  found  liini-elf  in  ])os- 
session  of  the  i-ein-  of  government,  and  especially  aftei'  the 
letters  from  Kngland  to  Nicholson  fui-in>lied  him  with  a 
pretext  for  lii>  authority,  he  became  fond  of  power;  and 
%yas  so  infatuatetl  liy  it>  e\ei-ei~e.  that  lie  lo-t  the  remem- 
brance of  his  duty  as  a  subject,  and  fell  a  \'ictim  to  hi^  am- 
bition. 

The  assumption  of  power  by  Leisler  was  a  misfortune  to 
the  colony.  It  was  of  no  beiielit  to  the  revolution  ;  it  de- 
ranged the  operation- of  rlie  -d\-ernment,  set  one  ]iart  of  the 
community  against  the  othei-,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  di- 
visions which  destroyed  the  harmony  of  the  colony  for  nuxny 
years. 

If  the  o-o\ernnieiit  had  been  >ntfei-e(l  to  continue  in  the 
hands  of  Niclio|,,,n  an<l  the  ohl  rMunrih  it  i>  i^robable  that 
the  colony  would  have  heeii  pi-oterte(|  again-t  the  ra\ ages 
of  the  French  ;ind  Indian>.  The  expedition  ai^'.-iin^t  (Que- 
bec might  have  succeeded,  and  M^cicty  would  not  have  beeu 
disturbed  by  party  animosity. 

III. —  Of  the  Colonij  Government. 

The  commission  of  Governor  Slaughter,  dated  dan  nary 
9th,  1689,  constituted  the  fouudation  of  the  colony  govern- 
ment after  the  revolution  ;  which  continued  as  it  was  theu 
settled,  with  few  innovations,  until  the  American  revolu- 
tion. 

The  executive  power  w^as  vested  in  the  governor,  and  the 


113 


legislative  power  in  tlie  governor,  council  and  assembly, 
subject  to  tlie  revision  of  the  king,  to  wlioin  all  laws  were 
to  be  sent  within  three  months  after  their  passage. 

The  council  at  lirst  consisted  of  seven  members,  which 
number  was  afterwards  increased  to  twelve,  and  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  king. 

The  assembly  was  composed  ot  delegates  from  each  county, 
chosen  by  the  freeholders.  The  number  was  regulated  by 
law.  The  term  of  service  was  indefinite  until  17i3,  when 
it  was  limited  to  seven  years. 

Tlie  governor  could  suspend  the  members  of  the  council, 
and  appoint  others,  subject  to  the  king's  approbation.  lie 
had  a  negative  on  the  acts  passed  by  the  assembly  and 
council.  He  had  power  to  summon,  prorogue,  or  dissolve, 
the  assembly  ;  to  appoint  all  public  officers  ;  and,  with  the 
consent  of  the  council,  to  establish  courts  of  justice,  to  dis- 
pose of  tlie  public  lands,  and  to  disburse  the  public  moneys 
raised  for  the  support  of  government. 

For  some  years,  the  public  revenue  went  into  the  hands 
of  a  receiver  general,  who  was  appointed  by  tlie  crown,  and 
was  not  accountable  to  the  assembly.  The  acts  for  raising 
revenue  for  the  support  of  government  were  continued  for 
a  series  of  years  without  appropriation  ;  and  the  council 
exercised  a  concurrent  power  over  revenue  bills,  as  in  other 
cases. 

This  mode  of  managing  the  revenue  was  liable  to  great 
abuse.  An  indefinite  support  enabled  the  governor  to  dis- 
pense with  the  assembly,  and  rendered  him  in  great  measure 
independent  of  them  during  that  period ;  and  the  omission 
of  specific  appropriations  enabled  the  governor  to  fix  the 
salaries  of  all  public  officers,  to  dispose  of  the  public  moneys 
as  he  pleased,  gave  him  the  entire  power  over  the  civil  list, 
and  led  to  misapplication  and  embezzlement. 

The  assembly  also  soon  discovered  that  their  influence  in 
the  government  depended  on  a  vigilant  exercise  of  their 
power  over  the  public  suj)plies  ;  and  they  resolved  to  correct 
these  abuses.  On  their  petition,  queen  Ann,  in  1706,  gave 
them  permission  to  appoint  their  own  treasurer,  to  receive 
and  pay  all  such  moneys  as  they  should  raise  for  extraordi- 
nary purposes. 

As  the  quit  rent  charged  on  the  patents  for  the  public 
lands  was  the  only  ordinary  revenue,  the  power  of  the  trea- 
surer was  construed  to  extend  to  all  the  monies  raised  by 
the  assembly  for  public  uses. 


114 


111  1700,  tlie  assonil)ly  assumed  the  control  of  tlie  money 
raised  by  them  for  the  support  of  j;-overnment,  hy  ai)iir()])ri- 
ating  it  to  s])ecitie  purposes.  It  was  usual  to  ])ass  one  hill 
to  raise  the  money  recpiired,  and  another  to  appropriate  the 
payment  of  it  to  the  particular  purposes  for  which  it  was 
raised. 

In  1711,  the  assembly  resolved  to  disallow  any  alteration 
to  be  made  by  the  council  in  rovoinie  l)ills.  In  re])ly  to  the 
claim  of  an  equal  right  over  tlic  -ulijci  i  by  tlic  (•(Uiiicil.  tliey 
observed  "that  the  power  nf  tlir  (-(Miiu-il  IImwciI  IVuni  tlie 
pleasure  of  the  prince,  si<>'iiilic(l  liy  the  ui  of  the 

governor;  but  that  the  power  of  the  asscniKh.  in  rclalioii  to 
taxes,  flowed  from  the  choice  of  the  pfoplc.  who  could  not 
be  divested  of  their  money  without  tlnMi- (•oii-cut ."'  and  they 
seem  uniformly  to  have  adhered  to  tlii>  (Ictcniiination  ever 
after. 

In  1737,  they  resolved  not  to  continue  the  revenne  for  a 
longer  term  than  one  year;  and  in  reply  to  Governor  Clarke, 
who  demanded  an  iiuleiinite  support,  tiu-y  say,  "  we  will  not 
raise  sums  unfit  to  be  raised,  nor  put  it  in  the  ])0wer  of  a 
governor  to  ini>apply  them,  or  continue  the  revenue  for  any 
longer  tn-ni  than  one  year." 

In  17-1-1,  the  asseniMy,  in  reply  to  the  same  governor,  who 
renewed  the  demand  for  an  iiidcfinilc  -ii|i|>oi't,  w  ithout  ap- 
propriation, state,  "that  tlic  (■..ui'-o  hr  rrconiinciKlcd  had 
formerly  l)C('ii  pursiUMl,  and  liad  ItMl  to  the  nii>a|iplIcation 
and  eiiilicz/.loiiiciit  of  the  public  money,  and  that  the  ]irac- 
tice  of  providing  public  >nppliL's  by  annual  grant-,  ami  the 
receipt  and  ])aynient  of  the  public  monies  by  their  own 
treasurer,  with  appi'opriatiou  to  specific  purpo-e>.  w  a-  the 
only  method  to  coi-i-ect  the  evil;"  and  they  intimate  their 
deteriniinititiii  to  adhei'e  to  it. 

July  I4th.  1747.  the  a— end)ly.  in  their  answer  to  Gover- 
nor Clinton,  who  i-eiiion-t  ratei  I  again-t  tlieii'  adliereiiee  to 
specific  appro|ii-iation-.  alb^i-  admitting  appropriation>  to  be 
for  general  uses  in  Kngland,  and  the  ]>artieular  application 
of  the  money  left  to  the  king,  they  say,  "the  ca>e  in  the 
plantations  is  very  dilfei-eiit  ;  tlie  governoi->  -eldom  haxc  any 
estates  in  the  colonies,  and  their  interot  i:-  entii-ely  distinct 
and  different  from  that  of  the  people,  and  therefore  it  is 
that  they  seldom  renai'd  the  welfare  of'  tlie  people,  otherwise 
than  as  they  can  make  it  r-nli-er\ ieiit  to  their  ow  ii  particular 
interest;  and  as  they  know  the  time  of  their  continuance 
in  their  governments  to  be  uncertain,  all  methods  are  used, 


115 


and  all  engines  set  to  work  to  raise  estates  to  themselves ; 
and  therefore,  should  the  public  monies  he  left  to  tlieir  dis- 
position, wliat  can  be  expected  but  the  grossest  misapplica- 
tion under  various  pretences,  which  will  never  be  wanting. 
This  has  often  been  actually  the  case  in  this  colony,  and 
when  such  misapplication  liappens,  there  are  no  means  of  re- 
dress." "We  cannot  answer  it  to  our  constituents  to  pass 
any  bill  for  raising  money  on  them,  and  leave  it  to  be  dis- 
posed of  at  the  will  and  pleasure  of  a  governor." 

The  strife  between  the  respective  governors  and  assem- 
blies, respecting  a  permanent  support,  continued  to  vex  the 
colony  until  September  24tli,  1T5(),  when  Sir  Charles  Hardy, 
the  governor,  informed  tlie  assembly  that  he  had  received 
instructions  allowing  him  to  assent  to  their  temporary  bills 
for  the  support  of  government.* 

These  contests  ai'ose  tVom  the  tyranny  of  the  motlier  conn- 
try  over  the  colonies,  and  wnc  the  result  of  the  European 
colony  system.  The  relation  between  the  mother  country 
and  a  colony  ought  to  lie  ni(>(]itie(l  in  the  same  manner  as 
that  which  subsists  between  a  parent  and  child,  and  the  re- 
lation ought  so  far  to  cease,  when  the  colony  becomes  com- 
petent to  her  own  self-subsistence,  as  relates  to  the  regula- 
tion of  their  internal  concerns.  To  enforce  the  continuance 
of  the  entire  subjection  of  the  colony,  after  that  period,  is 
as  incongruous  as  to  hold  a  child  in  a  state  of  pupilage  after 
he  has  arrived  at  the  age  of  manhood  ;  reduces  the  colony 
to  a  state  of  i>olitical  vassalage,  and  is  a  despotic  exercise 
of  authority  on  the  part  of  the  mother  country. 

A  monopoly  of  the  trade  of  a  colony  is  the  only  remunera- 
tion that  can  be  made  to  the  mother  country,  compatible 
with  the  well-being  of  the  colony,  and  is  an  ample  equiva- 
lent for  the  care  and  protection  of  the  mother  country. 

The  American  colonies,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  peace  in 
1763,  had  become  fully  competent  to  the  management  of 
their  own  internal  concerns.   They  were  desirous  to  maintain 

*  Smith,  in  liis  history  of  New-Yorlf,  page  371,  allows  that  the  reasons  of  the  assembly  for  as- 
suming the  control  of  the  public  raone.v,  were  plausible  ! 

This  author  pretty  freely  censures  the  personal  character  and  party  policy  of  some  of  the 
later  governors,  but'is  spiring  of  his  remarks  on  the  despotism  of  the  colony  system,  by  which 
they  were  controlled;  nor  does  he  attempt  to  shew  the  practicability  of  so  modifying  it  as  to 
render  the  internal  improvement  of  the  colony  compatible  with  the  political  supremacy  of  the 
mother  country,  without  which  there  was  no  alternative  for  the  colonies,  but  vassalage  or  inde- 

^  Contrasting  the  political  reflections  which  occur  in  his  work,  with  the  course  which  he  took 
when  the  crisis  arrived  which  put  his  patriotism  to  the  test,  makes  the  remark  which  he  ajiphed 
to  Lieutenant  Governor  Delancy,  on  account  of  his  opposition  to  the  plan  of  union  of  1754, 
peculiarly  apphcable  to  his  own  case,  viz.  :  "  Many  had  conceived  him  to  be  most  inclined  to 
the  popular  branch  cf  the  constitution,  but  now  discovered  that  he  had  his  eye  to  the  other  side 
of  the  water." 

35 


116 


a  ])olitical  conTiectioii  with  tlic  iiidtluM"  ('(luiitrv  ;  tliey  ac- 
kiio\vle(lf2;e(l  lier  jiMlitical  -uin'cnincv,  ;iih1  .■k-i | u ii -(•(■(!  in  her 
power  to  reii'iihitc  their  cxtrriial  rclat  i<in-.  t  lici  r  InnMu-n  eoin- 
nierce  and  iiavii;:iti(ni,  but  contended  t'ni'  the  ri-lit  to  rc■^■u- 
Lxte  their  own  iuti'nial  affairs.  The  nuit her  (•(niut  ry,  on  the 
contrary,  chiinied  tlie  rii;-ht  to  eoiitiMl  thcii'  internal  reii'iila- 
tions,  so  as  to  render  tliem  -Mli-ei-\  lent  \i<  hei'  iutei'e-l-.  and 
to  prolong  tlieir  subjection  to  her  aiitliorit  v.  it  wa-  for  tlie 
first  of  these  purposes  that  si  I  e  pi-ohil.ited  the  r-taMi-linient 
of  such  manufactures  as  would  iiiterfei-e  with  lu  i'  "W  n  ;  that 
she  refused  lier  assent  to  law-  impo-Iim-  dutie-  on  the  ini|ior- 
tation  of  her  manufactures;  tliai  -he  .,|.|Mi-e(l  the  act-  tV)r 
issuing  paper  money,  or  roipiii'ed  tliem  to  he,  st.i  luoditied  as 
to  suit  her  interests;  and  that  -he  made  lands  assets  for  the 
payment  of  debts  due  to  hei'  ineichaiits.  It  was  for  the 
second  purpose  that  she  refu-ed  hei-  a— eiit  to  annual  a— ein- 
blies  ;  that  she  required  tlu'  e-talili-lnneiit  oC  a  pei'inaiient 
revenue,  that  she  objected  to  -[.eeilic  a|.]ii'o]ii'iat  ion  of  the 
public  monies,  which  limited  the  |iu]i!ii-  I'atrMn.r.c  of  the 
governor;  and  that  she  requii'ud  the  jud-c-"  eoiinni  -.-ions  to 
be  issue(l  duriiiu"  ]ilea-ure.''- 

It  \\a-  by  |>i-e--iiio-  ihi-  interference  in  the  internal  aflairs 
of  the  coldiiie-,  until  >he  assumed  the  power  of  imposing- 
taxes  on  them  w  ithoiit  their  consent,  that  forced  them  upon 
resistance  foi'  >elt' jn'esorvation. 

The  coImii  x  m-ci\ ei'noi'<  were  bound  by  tlieir  insti'uetions  to 
enforec  .n,.!,  niea-mv-  a-  w  ere  i^i  joinrd  by  the  policy  of  the 
mother  country,  and  wei\'  required  to  withhold  their  assent 
from  all  such  acts  as  infringed  the  claims  of  the  royal  pre- 
rogative. 

A  ue^'lL'ct  of  hi-  instruction-  exjiosecl  a  c-r)\-ci'nor  to  the 
forfeiture  ofthe  I'oyal  lavoi-.  and  ih,.  l,,-,,fln-  oHice.  How- 
ever well  di<j)osed  he  mii!,-ht  be  to  favor  the  interests  of  the 


In         iM'li  >,,-.'ri,:...,i  •.'  -!:,MwlHi..-nt  Mf   

In  it:  ■  ■    .    ■::  ii,.- 

lu  IT  ,,i  i:,,ii.h  debts. 

It  »  '  ■  .,uc,  without  ap- 

propri  ( 

Till  i  iiisUuctcHi  to  refuse  tlieir  a.-seiit  to  ;liiv  emission  of  paper  money, 

with  "  .  ' 

In  '  T  il  his  assent  to  an  act  passed  liere  in  173T,  for  triennial  assemblies. 

The  K'^'   '  , -li  d  to  i-.ue  tlicir  commissions  of  the  judges  duriii;.'  pleasure 

InlT'W.Ni.  ii     iMi.j  '  ii.ort,  say  that  to  grant  comiiii--i.Mi-  Im  iIm-  i-olony 

judges  during  ^  -ubversive  of  all  true  poliev,  I     i  n.i  n  .  i  i  i  li.- ii',. 

tcrestsdf  his  n.  lo  lessen  that  just  depeudeii.  ,  tl,.  . -.|,,i,ies 

ought  to  have  up 

The  governors.  i:i  -  ^  .  .      in  .  ,  ,  .,  departed  fr.im  their  instructions  in  relation  to  the 

judges'  commissions,  and  from  public  necessity  were  compelled  to  do  it  generally  with  regard 
to  paper  money. 


117 


colony,  and  to  secure  tlie  good  oi)inion  of  tlie  people,  he  liad 
a  stronger  interest  to  promote  tlie  views  of  the  mother  coun- 
try, and  to  secure  the  favor  of  the  crown. 

Those  who  at  first  felt  some  regard  for  the  rights  of  the 
colonists,  were  soon  forced  by  their  station  to  lend  their  tal- 
ents to  tlie  enforcement  of  the  colony  system. 

Few  of  them  understood  the  policy  necessary  to  the  im- 
provement of  a  new  country,  or  made  any  efforts  for  that 
purpose. 

The  internal  improvement  of  the  country,  the  advance- 
ment of  the  liberal  professions,  and  the  cultivation  of  liter- 
ature and  the  arts,  seem  alike  to  have  been  overlooked  and 
neglected  by  them. 

A  few  solitary  suggestions  were  sometimes  made  by  them 
on  these  subjects,  but  what  few  exertions  were  made  towards 
public  improvements  were  made  by  intelligent  and  public 
spirited  individuals. 

The  smallness  of  our  numbers  indeed  greatly  obstructed 
the  iiiiprovoiiieiit  of  the  country  or  society.  Yarious  causes 
("oiitriliutc'il  to  this  t'tfect.  The  smallness  of  our  torritory 
nnoccii|)i('il  by  tlie  Indians,  the  extraordinary  iiiilit;iry  ser- 
viet.'>  iiiipo.-rii  on  our  citizens  by  our  li>ca]  sit  until  iii,  the 
constant  exjiosm-e  of  the  tVontici-s  to  tlie  (k'i>rr(latioii>  of 
the  French  and  Iii(lia]i>.  lirlori' tlic  coiKiiic^t  of  ( 'aiiada.  the 
difficulty  of  obtaining  lands  for  >ottk'nicnt.  in  ci 'n>e( juciice 
of  the  practice  pursued  by  the  governors,  of  granting  them 
in  large  tracts  to  favorites,  who  would  only  U'n>o  i>v  sell  tliein 
at  a  high  price.*  To  these  may  l>e  added  a  dislike  to  the 
government,  which  was  less  free  than  the  diartered  govern- 
ments of  New-England,  from  whence  emigrants  were  chiefly 
to  be  expected.  The  apprehension  al>o  of  tlie  probability 
of  a  legal  establishment  of  the  I''pi>c.,pal  elnirch,  w  itli  ex- 
clusive privileges,  in  the  colony,  induced  by  tlie  eliiirr^  made 
by  the  governor  to  have  the  ministers  of  that  eliiireli  sup- 
ported by  taxes  levied  on  all  other  denominations,  eomhined 
with  ancient  prejudices  engendered  by  controversies  between 
the  jSTew-England  people  and  the  Dutch,  before  the  conquest 
of  the  colony,  prevented  inueh  emigration  into  the  colony. 
Few  efforts  were  made  l>y  tho  colony  governors  to  remove 
these  obstacles  to  the  increase  of  our  iiiimberr^  and  prugress 
of  society. 

*  The  governors  charged  £12  10s.  patent  fees  for  every  thousand  acres  of  tlie  public  lands, 
1,0  which  £5  were  added  for  surveying  fees.  Gi-ants  weie  refused  to  settlers  who  were  unable 
to  advance  the  office  fees,  and  the  settlement  of  the  country  was  retarded  by  the  avarice  of 
the  governors. 


118 


Tlu'  chief  re<2;ar(ls  of  our  colony  governors  were  confined 
to  iiieiisiires  calculated  to  secure  an  ascciKlancv  over  tlio 
Five  Nations,  to  undermine  tlie  Frencli  ])u\vcr  in  Canada, 
and  to  guard  the  claims  of  the  royal  prerogative,  and  the 
interests  of  the  mother  country.  Measures  wliicli  were 
merely  calculated  to  iin]>i-(iv('  the  country,  or  to  mclioi-ate 
the  nu)ral  condition  of  the  inhahitants,  were  of  lc'»  nuimcnt, 
in  their  estimation,  tlian  such  as  wwc  calculated  to  secure 
their  own  emolument  or  continuance  In  imwcr. 

While  the  governors  were  \ii:ilant  in  urging  such  mea- 
sures as  wi're  suhservicnt  to  their  ow  n  \  icw  s  and  the  claims 
of  the  mothci-  conntrv.  tlie  colonial  assemhlies  cmlcavorcd 
to  withstand  >\u:\i  of  then)  as  were  (leenie(l  to  intVinLic  on 
their  constitutional  rights  and  liherties.  On  tlioc  -niijccts 
they  were  frequently  at  variance  with  the  a>>cinlilic>,  and 
often  liarrassed  them  by  proi-o^ations  and  (hV-ohitions  in 
order  to  wori'y  them  into  a  (oinpliance  with  tlicii-  favoi'ite 
measures;  and  the  whole  colony  a(lniini>tration  cxhiliits  a 
constant  conflict  between  the  claim-  and  cncroacliniciit>  of 
power,  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  ^[lii'it  of  liberty  ^trnu^ling 
to  defeat  them,  on  the  (ither. 

Their  I'e-idencc  in  tlie  country  was  in  most  cases  expect- 
ed to  be  teni|HH  ary,  and  as  the  a,ssembly  state,  in  their  ad- 
dress to  the  loi-(l>  of  ti'a<le.  in  1753,  they  very  often  seem  to 
have  "con>i<lered  the  ollice  as  a  post  of  profit,"'  and  their 
chief  study  seems  to  have  been  to  make  the  most  of  it,  and 
to  carry  as  much  money  out  of  the  colony  as  was  in  their 
power. 

The  whole  history  of  the  colony  government  evinced  that 
it  was  in  vain  to  expect  a  patriotic  devotion  to  the  public 
welfire.  frnni  men  who  wei'e  not  bomnl  to  the  country  by 
any  lie-  <,\'  iM  i'-diial  iutei'e-t,  oi-  re>|Min>ible  to  the  country 
for  till-  faitlilul  (li-i  liai;-c  of  tlieir  public  trn>t  :  and  that  sub- 
serviency to  the  crew  II,  and  a  (li-re;iai'd  of  tlie  ]>e.i|i|('.  were 
vices  inhei'eiit  in  the  \ciw  iiatui'e  uf  coliuiv     i\ crn  ineiil . 

These  contest^  bet\veen  the  cohmy  u'oNciaiois  and  a— em- 
blies  taught  the  pe.!] lie  to  invc>ti--ate  and  mideistaiid  thi'ir 
rights,  to  a])preciate  the  danger  of  the  mea-m'e>  of  the 
motliei'  counti-y  to  theii'  liberties,  and  prepared  them  fur  the 
revolution,  which  ternunated  in  the  independence  of  the 
country." 

*  The  constant  ilanger  to  which  the  colonies  had  been  exposed  by  the  ambition  of  the  French 
in  tlieir  neighborhood,  and  their  influence  with  the  Indians,  from  the  massacre  of  the  people  of 
Sclienectady  in  1090,  until  the  conquest  of  Canada  in  1760,  kept  them  dependant  on  (ireat 
Britain  ;  and  the  necessity  they  were  under  for  her  aid  to  their  security,  prevented  her  being 
jealous  of  ttiem. 

After  Canada  was  added  to  the  number  of  the  colonies,  she  began  to  be  jealous  of  their  grow- 


119 


Of  the  Sufferings  of  the  Peojyle  of  Long-Island  during  the 
War  of  the  Revolution. 

The  powers  of  the  colony  governor  were  suspended  in 
October,  1775,  and  until  the  adoption  of  the  constitution, 
the  government  was  administered  by  a  provincial  congress 
or  convention,  aided  by  town  and  county  committees. 

Public  spirit  supplied  the  place  of  authority,  and  gave  the 
recommendations  of  those  bodies  the  force  of  law.* 

The  island  was  evacuated  the  night  of  the  29th  of  August, 
1776  ;  and  in  October  following,  the  county  committees,  and 
the  committees  of  the  several  towns,  were,  by  force  or  fear, 
prevailed  on,  by  written  declarations,  to  revoke  and  dis- 
annul all  their  proceedings,  and  to  renounce  and  disavow 
the  authority  ot  the  provincial  and  continental  congresses, 
and  the  members  of  the  several  committees,  and  the  people 
generally,  Avere  obliged  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
king.f 

From  1776  to  1783,  the  island  was  occupied  by  British 
troops.  They  traversed  it  from  one  end  to  the  other,  and 
were  stationed  at  different  places  during  the  war. 

The  whole  country  within  the  Biitish  lines  was  subject  to 

ing  strength  and  importance,  and  then  for  the  first  time,  perceived  that  the  means  which  she 
had  adopted  for  the  enlargement  of  her  power  were  calculated  to  endanger  and  abridge  it. 
Immediately  after  the  treaty  by  which  Canada  was  ceded  to  Great  Britain,  in  1763,  she  de- 
termined to  maintain  a  military  force  in  the  colonies,  to  overawe  them,  and  to  raise  a  national 
revenue  from  them,  "for  the  better  support  of  government  and  the  administration  of  the  colo- 
nies ;"  the  eBfect  of  which  would  have  been  to  render  the  governors,  j^lges,  and  other  officers 
appointed  by  the  crown,  independent  of  the  colony  legislatures.  The  surplus  revenue  was  to 
be  at  the  disposal  of  Parliament.  In  1764,  the  British  Parliament  imposed  a  duty  on  sugar 
and  molasses.  In  1765,  the  stamp  act  was  imposed,  which,  in  consequence  of  the  determined 
opposition  with  which  it  was  resisted,  was  repealed  the  ensuing  year. 

During  the  same  year,  1766,  an  act  was  passed  requiring  the  colonies  to  provide  quarters, 
and  certain  enumerated  supplies  for  the  troops  stationed  among  them.  The  assembly  of  New  • 
York  provided  barracks  for  the  troops  stationed  there,  but  omitted  to  make  provision  for  a  few 
of  the  articles  enumerated  among  the  supplies. 

In  1767,  an  act  was  passed  restraining  the  governor  and  council  from  assenting  to  any  bill 
until  the  assembly  furnished  the  supplies  required. 

In  1T67  also,  new  duties  were  imposed  on  paper,  glass,  painter's  colours,  and  tea,  and  a  board 
of  commissioners  were  appointed  to  enforce  the  collection  of  the  duties. 

The  colonies  repeatedly  remonstrated  against  these  acts,  as  destructive  of  their  rights  and 
liberties. 

In  1770,  all  the  duties  were  repealed,  except  the  duty  on  tea,  and  this  involved  the  principle 
that  the  parliament  had  the  power  to  pass  laws  to  bind  the  colonies  in  all  cases  whatsoever. 

The  colonies  held  that  taxation  and  representation  were  inseparable,  and  tha  ,  as  they  were 
not  represented  in  parliament,  they  could  not  be  rightfully  taxed  by  parliament. 

A  determination  to  re.-ist  the  violation  of  this  principle,  on  the  part  of  the  colonies,  and  a 
determination  to  enforce  their  measures  by  the  sword,  on  the  part  of  the  British  ministry,  led 
to  a  union  of  the  colonies,  and  to  the  war  of  the  revolution,  which  resulted  in  the  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  independence  of  the  United  States  by  Great  Britain,  in  1783. 

*  The  first  Continental  Congress  met  at  Philadelphia,  September  4, 1774,  and  the  second  met 
May  10, 1775.  The  Provincial  Congress  of  New- York  met  the  22d  May,  1775,  and  on  the  27th 
they  recommended  to  the  several  counties,  to  appoint  county  and  town  committees,  which  was 
immediately  complied  with.  Governor  Tryon  withdrew  from  the  city  of  New-York,  and  went 
on  board  a  British  ship  on  the  13th  of  October,  1775,  which  day  has  been  considered  as  the 
date  of  the  dissolution  of  the  colony  government. 

+  General  Howe  issued  a  proclamation  soon  after  he  landed  on  Long-Island,  promising  secu- 
rity and  protection  to  such  as  should  remain  peaceably  on  their  farms,  and  most  of  the  inhabi- 
tants availed  themselves  of  it,  and  remained  on  the  island  during  the  war. 

36 


120 


martial  law,  the  ailiniiii^tration  of  justice  was  suspended, 
the  army  was  a  saiictiiarv  tor  crimes  and  robbery,  and  the 
grossest  offences  wcfc  atoned  by  enlistment. 

The  massacre  of  Cjeneral  Woodhull,  in  cold  blood,  was  a 
prelude  to  what  others  were  to  suffer,  wlio  had  taken  an 
active  part  in  favor  of  the  revolution.-  |Scc  A  | ipcndix.  | 
Many  of  those  who  had  served  as  ofhcci  -  in  ilic  militia,  or 
as  members  of  the  town  and  county  coiiiniii  tic-,  lied  Into 
the  Anierican  lines  for  safety.  Tlio-c  w  Ik  i  i-ciiiai  nci|  :\t  lioine 
were  harrassed  and  jdundered  of  tlicii'  |iro|M'il  \,  ami  tlic  in- 
habitants generally  wci-c  sulijcct  to  the  ordci^,  and  their 
property  to  the  disposal,  ot  the  I'.riti^h  olHcers. 

They  compelled  the  inhaltitant-  to  do  all  kinds  of  })er- 
sonal  services,  to  work  at  their  lori-.  t,,  w  iih  tlu-ir  teams, 
on  foraging  parties,  and  to  ti-an-pMi  t  tla  ii-  i-.-mnon,  annijuni- 
tion,  ]>rovi^ions,  and  baii'-'a-e.  iVom  |ilace  to  place,  a^  they 
changed  theii'  ipiartei'-.  and  to  mid  come  on  the  oi-<lei-  of 
every  petty  otheeT  who  had  the  chai-ge  of  the  ])iost  trilling 
business. 

In  1781,  the  town  of  Huntington  was  compelled  to  raise 
£17^)  liv  a  ii'eneral  tax,  as  a  eommntat  ion  loi-  ]ier>onal  labor, 
toward'-  di-L:ing  a  well  in  the  ton  ,,,,  IJosd"-  Xc-k. 

The  othecr-  -eized  and  oceii|ii(M|  the  lie.-l  rooni>  in  the 
hon>e-o|-  ill,,  iiihahitant-.  They  eompelle.l  them  to  fni-nish 
blanket-  and  fuel  for  the  -oldimv'  nn,]  hay  and  grain  for  their 
horses.  Tlu-y  pre>-ed  their  hor-e-  ami  w  a-. ins  tor  the  use 
of  the  army.  They  took  aw  ay  thi'ir  cattle,  -heep,  liogs  and 
poultry,  and  M'i/.ed  w  ithout  ceremon\ ,  and  w  ithout  any  com- 
pensation, or  tor  >uch  oidy  as  thev  cho.-e  to  make  for  their 
own  use,  whate\ei'  they  tlesired  to  gratify  their  wants  or 
wishes. 

In  April,  1783,  Sir  Guy  Carlton  instituted  a  board  of  com- 
missioners for  the  ]>ur]>ose  of  adjustiiiu'  such  demands  aii'ainst 
the  r.riti-h  aimiN.a-  had  not  heim  -ettlcd.  1'1  ic  arc,  .u  n  t>  of 
the  pe,. J.!,-  of  ill,'  t,,\\ii  ,,f  II  lint  in-1,.n  alone,  toi-  pr.ijiei-ty 
taken  from  them.  \nv  the  u-,'  ot"  ih,'  aiaiiy,  A\hich  were  sup- 
ported by  I'cc.api-  ,,r  llrili-h  ,illi,-,.r-,  or  by  other  evidence, 
wdiich  wei-,.  pr,  pai-c,|  tn  Ije  laid  lieloi-c  the  boai-d,  amounted 
to  i'T.L' 1 im],.  an,l  these  acciunts  were  not  >nppo-,'il  to 
compi-i-,'  oii,  -i;,iirtli  part  of  the  property  wliich  w  a-  taken 
from  then  I  \\iili,iiii  i-^ 'U  i]  lensation. 

These  ac(  nt-  ^\ ,  r,  -< nt  to  New- York  to  be  laid  before 

the  board  of  connni>>ioners,  but  they  sailed  for  England 
without  attending  to  them,  and  the  people  from  whom  the 


121 


property  was  taken  were  left,  like  their  neighbors  who  had 
no  receipts,  without  redress. 

If  the  other  towns  on  the  island  suffered  half  as  mnch  in 
proportion,  the  whole  island  must  have  sustained  actual  losses 
by  the  war  exceeding  $500,000,  besides  innumerable  other 
injuries. 

The  inhabitants  suffered  great  abuse  from  the  British  re- 
fugees, who,  whenever  they  could  shelter  themselves  under 
any  color  of  authority,  did  all  the  injury  in  their  power. 
Many  of  these  devoted  themselves  to  robbery  and  pillage, 
and  if  they  were  detected,  they  enlisted,  and  this  arrested 
the  arm  of  justice,  shielded  them  from  punishment,  and  en- 
abled them  to  bid  defiance  to  those  whom  they  had  robbed 
and  abused. 

During  the  whole  war,  the  inhabitants  of  the  island,  es- 
pecially those  of  Suffolk  county,  were  perpetually  exposed 
to  the  grossest  insult  and  abuse.  They  had  no  property  of 
a  moveable  nature  that  they  could,  properly  speaking,  call 
their  own ;  they  were  oftentimes  deprived  of  the  stock  ne- 
cessary to  the  management  of  their  farms,  and  were  deterred 
from  endeavoring  to  produce  more  than  a  bare  subsistence 
by  the  apprehension  that  a  surplus  would  be  wrested  from 
them,  either  by  the  military  authority  of  the  purveyor,  or 
by  the  ruffian  hand  of  the  plunderer. 

Besides  these  violations  of  the  rights  of  person  and  prop- 
erty, the  British  officers  did  many  acts  of  barbarity,  for 
which  there  could  be  no  apology. 

They  made  garrisons,  store-houses,  or  stables,  of  the  houses 
of  public  worship  in  several  towns,  and  particularly  of  such 
as  belonged  to  the  Presbyterians. 

In  the  fall  of  1782,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  war,  about 
the  time  the  provisional  articles  of  the  treaty  of  peace  were 
signed  in  Europe,  Colonel  Thompson,  (since  said  to  be  Count 
Eumford,)  who  commanded  the  troops  then  stationed  at 
Huntington,  without  any  assignable  purpose,  except  that  of 
filling  his  own  pockets,  by  its  furnishing  him  with  a  pre- 
tended claim  on  the  British  treasury  for  the  expense,  caused 
a  fort  to  be  erected  in  Huntington,  and  without  any  pos- 
sible motive  except  to  gratify  a  malignant  disposition,  by 
vexing  tlie  people  of  Huntington,  he  placed  it  in  the  cen- 
tre of'the  public  burying-ground,  in  defiance  of  a  remon- 
strance of  the  trustees  of  tiie  town,  against  the  sacrilege 
of  disturbing  the  ashes  and  destroying  the  monuments  of 
the  dead. 


122 


IIar(h'hij)s  imposed  hi/  the  State  Legislature. 

Much,  however,  as  the  people  of  Long-Island  had  suffer- 
ed from  the  injustice,  cruelty,  and  oi)]ircssi()ii  of  the  com- 
mon enemy,  they  were  not  sutlbred  to  t:\-ir  llir  cuii  ..f  lil)crty 
until  it  was,  in  some  measure,  end)ittere<l  liy  thu  uiikindncss 
of  their  friends. 

It  was  their  lot  to  be  abaiidoned  !)y  their  connti-y,  and 
left  in  the  power  of  the  enemy.  It  was  tlu'lr  iiii>tMrf  mie, 
and  not  their  fault,  that  they  were  not  within  the  .\iih  ricaii 
lines;  that  they  were  disarmed,  and  in  siihjcct inn  {n  the 
enemy,  instead  of  heing  in  the  tented  lield,  and  in  anus 
against  them. 

By  an  act  of  the  legislature  of  the  State  (if  Xew-'^'oi-k, 
passed  March  17,  1783,  in  action-  fm-  damaLi-c-  to  the  piMp- 
erty  of  persons  within  the  Anieriean  lines,  tho-e  w  ho  hud 
been  compelled  by  military  orders,  and  even  hy  military 
force,  to  contribute  to  the  damage,  were  pi-ohihited  iVom 
pleading  the  same  in  jiistitieatiou,  or  from  giving  the  same 
in  evidence  on  tlie  L;-eiieral  i->ne. 

By  another  act.  iia~>ed  May  it.  17.S+,  a  tax  of  £100,000 
was  iin|H,MMl  Mil  the  >ontlienuli>ti-ict.  £'-'57,000  of  which  was 
assign nl  t,.  I.(iiii;-l~hin<l,  as  a  ciimpeiif-ation  to  the  other  parts 
of  tlie  -tate.  l\<v  iiMt  ha\  iiiii-  l»een  in  a  condition  to  take  an 
activi'  pai  r  in  the  w  ar  a:;ainst  the  enemy  ! !  I 

Both  tlie^e  act>  were  viohitions  of  public  law.  and  the  im- 
mutable principles  of  justice  ;  were  partial  and  oiqHv-r-ive 
in  their  operation,  and  fully  proved  that  an  alni^e  ot'  power 
was  not  ])eculiai'  to  tlie  Bi'itish  parliament,  but  a  connnon 
infirmity  ot  hiiinaii  nature;  and  in  conflicts  of  local  inter- 
ests, fomented  iiy  local  Jealousies,  might  sumetimes  occur 
under  the  freest  forms  of  government. 


APPENDIX. 


Of  General  Wna,lh»]L 

T^athaniel  Woodhull  was  a  (Ic-rriubiiit  of  Ricliard  "VYood- 
luill,  esq.,  who  is  supposed  to  liave  left  Eng'land  in  conse- 
(|uence  of  liavino-  taken  an  active  part  in  favor  of  liberty, 
nnder  Charles  I.,  a  short  time  before  the  restoration  of 
Charles  II.,  in  1G60. 

lie  is  named  in  the  original  deeds  for  Jamaica,  as  one  of 
the  lirst  proprietors  of  that  town,  bnt  seems  to  have  settled 
at  Brookhaven  soon  atu  i-  tlie  settlement  of  that  place.  An 
oi'iginal  letter,  written  by  Lord  Crew,  to  the  said  Richard 
Woudhulh  in  1687,  in  answer  to  one  of  his,  is  among  the 
papers  of  the  late  Abraham  Woodhnll,  esq.,  of  Brookhaven, 
in  which  he  styles  \\\m  cdusin.  and  speaks  of  his  relations, 
among  whom  he  enuni('iatr>  a  lii-liop,  and  a  number  of 
families  of  tlie  first  rank  and  res[iectability  in  society. 

Mr.  "Woodhnll  liad  three  brothers  younger  than  himself, 
Iticliard,  Jesse  and  Ebenezer.  Richard  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  IT.")!',  was  a  tutor  tliere  some  yeai's,  and  died  at 
New-Haven.  ,Ic->c  and  Ebenezer  settled  in  Orange  county, 
and  tlieir  ]Mi-;trrity  icside  tliere. 

XathaiiicI  wa>  IkH'ii  in  ITiii'.  and  spent  his  youth  with  his 
father.  w]i(>\\  a>  an  upulcnt  fanner  at  Mastic,  in  Brookhaven, 
and  hi>  oducatiou  was  ^uch  as  was  calculated  to  tit  him  for 
the  duties  of  active  life. 

He  was  (Midoweil  \)\  nature  witli  a  strong  discriminating 
mind,  aiul  a  -ouml  jiidLiiiieiit,  w  liieli  ^ooii  attracted  the  notice 
of  his  fellow  citizen.-,  ami  pointed  him  out  as  peculiarly 
qualified  for  ])ul)lic  usefulness. 

His  iirst  public  employment  was  in  a  military  capacity, 
in  the  wai'  between  Creat  Britain  and  Fi'ance,  which  com- 
menced in  1  7ri4.  and  terminated  in  1700. 

It  is  not  known  tliat  Mr.  Woodliull  entered  the  army  be- 
fore 17^»S.  rreviou>ly  to  tliat  yeai'.  tlie  war  had  l)een  con- 
ducted without  much  >\Meni  oi-  \  igoi',  and  the  French  had 
the  superiority  in  every  canipaign. 

The  defeat  of  Braddock  in  1755 — the  acqiiisition  of  Os- 
wego in  1750,  and  of  Fort  William  Henry  in  1757,  gave 
the'm  the  command  of  Lake  Champlain,  the  western  lakes, 


124 


and  of  the  whole  cuuiiti-y  hetwecii  Canada  and  Lonit^iaiia, 
west  of  tlie  Allciihiiii V  iiiuiiutaiiis.  Tliis  secured  to  tlieiii 
the  aseeiidancj  o\i'i-  tlu'  Indian  ti-il)es,  and  they  threatened 
to  confine  the  colonies  to  very  narrow  limits,  or  to  wrest 
tliein  from  Great  Britain. 

In  1758,  nnder  the  achninistration  of  William  Pitt,  it  w^as 
determined  to  make  more  vii;orous  efforts  to  limit  or  reduce 
the  French  i)0wer  in  America. 

For  this  purpose,  a  large  body  of  regular  troops,  witli  well 
appointed  officers,  and  a  powerful  fleet,  were  sent  iVnm  I-^ng- 
land.  iiinl  tlic  niii'thern  eolitnii's  wore  called  on  to  I'ai^e  their 
resjH'cti\r  ]irii]Mii'tiiiiis  uf  I'd. oui I  men.  to  aid  the  rcii'ular 
forces  in  their  operations  a-i'aln>t  tlic  l^'rcncli.  ()ftlii>  num- 
ber 26)50  were  allotted  to  ^'cw  A'ork.  ihirin:^-  tlic  \car  IT.'.S- 
59  and  60,  of  which  657  were  a-l-ncd  to  Lon--l>hin(l  ;!()0 
to  Queens,  289  to  Suffolk,  and  08  to  Kings.  Tlie  colony 
had  only  furnished  800  in  1755,  1350  in  1756,  and  1<)(mi  in 
1757. 

During  the  year  1758,  Louisburgh  w^as  taken  by  (xeneral 
Amherst,  aided  by  the  fleet  under  admiral  Boscawen.  Fort 
Ihi  (Jnc-nc  wa~  taken  by(;eneral  I'^orhes.  and  its  luinie 
chaiiLi-ed  to  [''(.I't  I'itr.  (.oiiei'al  A  1  lei'ci'oi n  1  lie  was  j-ej m Ised 
in  ]ii>  ell'oi-t~  a-ain>t  I'iconderoga,  the  Sth  of  July;  but  Fort 
Fronteiiae  \va>  snb~ei piently  reduced  by  a  detachment  from 
his  ai'iny  tlie  •JTtli  of  August,  under  the  command  of  Colo- 
nel r.ra'.l-tivot. 

"J'hi  (h  i.ii  liinent  consisted  of  3000  men,  chiefly  provincial 
troops,  and  I  1      of  tlicm  of  the  IN'ew-York  levies. 

In  IT-^'.*.  (Teiicral  Amherst  succeeded  General  Abercrom- 
bie  a>  conuuanih'f-iiechiet.  and  the  conquest  of  Canada  was 
resolved  on.  The  plan  of  the  canqiaigu  was  to  make  the 
attack  atthe  same  time  l>y  the  upper  lakes.  Lake  Cham])lain, 
and  by  the  St.  Law  i-encc. 

During  thi~  -cii-oii.  .\i:i--;;i-a  was  taken  hy  a  detachment 
under  General  Tri. Iran \,  w  lio  \va>  kibe<l  iiy  a  ca>nalty.  and 
was  succeeded  by  Sii'  William  Johnson,  wiio  coiupletcd  the 
conquest  the  25th  of  .Inly.  Tirondcroga  and  Crown  Point 
were  taken  by  the  troop-  nnder  (u-iiei-al  A mhci-st.  .1  une  23, 
and  (Quebec  was  surrenilcred.  Septeiidiei-  f"^,  to  the  army 
connnanded  by  Gen.  Wolt'e.  w  ho  tell  in  the  attack. 

In  1700,  the  plan  adopted  the  pi-eceding  year  w  as  vigor- 
ously prosecuted.  The  French  foi'ce~  wei-e  eom  entrated  at 
Montreal,  and  the  three  detachments  of  the  ai-niy  by  way 
of  Ontario,  Champlaiii,  and  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  untler  the 


125 


command  of  Generals  Amherst,  Haviland  and  Murray,  re- 
spectively arrived  before  Montreal  within  48  hours  of  each 
other. 

.  The  united  forces  were  so  formidable,  that  M.  De  Yau- 
dreul,  the  Governor-general,  deemed  it  improvident  to  risk 
an  action,  or  to  sustain  a  siege  ;  and  on  tlie  8tli  of  Septem- 
ber, 1760,  he  surrendered  the  whole  province  of  Canada  and 
its  dependencies,  to  the  united  regular  and  provincial  forces, 
under  General  Amherst,  which  was  coniirmed  to  Great 
Britain  by  the  treaty  of  Paris,  February  10th,  1763. 

In  1758,  Mr.  Woodhull  was  a  major  in  one  of  the  Ncav- 
York  battalions.  He  was  with  the  troops  under  General 
Abercrombie  at  Ticonderoga,  the  8th  of  July,  and  he  ac- 
companied Col.  Bradstreet  in  the  expedition,  wliich  he  con- 
ducted against  fort  Frontenac,  and  assisted  in  the  reduction 
of  that  fortress,  the  27th  of  August  ensuing.  The  army 
left  Schenectady  the  28th  of  July  tor  the  Oneida  carrying 
place.  On  their  route  on  the  night  of  the  5th  of  August, 
150  of  the  Jersey  troops  deserted  from  the  encampment, 
near  the  German  Flats.  Major  Woodhull  was  despatched 
on  the  morning  of  the  6th  with  a  detachment  of  300  of  the 
New- York  troops  in  pursuit  of  them,  and  overtook  and  re- 
turned with  them  on  the  night  of  the  7th.  This  expedition, 
both  in  respect  to  the  splendor  of  the  achievement  and  its 
beneficial  effects  in  weakening  the  influence  of  the  French 
witli  tbe  Indians,  in  interrupting  their  intercourse  with  their 
iip[>cr  forts,  and  in  lessening  their  ability  to  furnish  them 
with  military  supplies  as  well  as  in  diverting  the  course  of 
the  fur  trade,  was  one  of  the  most  important  events  that 
occurred  during  the  whole  war.  It  contributed,  in  a  great 
measure,  to  efface  the  disgrace  which  the  army  had  just  sus- 
tained by  their  repulse  at  Ticonderoga.  In  this  expedition 
the  venerable  Col.  Marinus  "Willet,  who  was  a  lieutenant 
and  one  of  the  party,  states,  that  the  conduct  of  Major 
"Woodhull  was  that  of  "  a  first  rate  ofiieer."'^' 

*  The  expedition  under  Col.  Bradstreet  consisted  of  tlie  following  troops  :  Regulars,  135— 
royal  artillery,  30— New-York  provincials,  1112— Massachusetts  do.  675 — New-Jersey  do.  412 — 
Rhode-Island  do.  318— batteau  men,  300,  and  about  60  rangers— in  all  3035.  The  regulars  were 
commanded  by  Capt.  Ogilvie,  and  the  artillery  by  Lieutenant  Brown. 

The  New-York  troOps  consisted  of  two  detachments,  The  first  commanded  by  Lieut.  Colonel 
Charles  Clinton,  of  Ulster,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  440,  under  Capts.  Jonathan  Ogden,  of 
Westchester,  Peter  Dubois,  of  New- York,  Samuel  Bladgley,  of  Dutchess,  and  Daniel  Wriglit, 
of  Queens.  The  second  was  commanded  by  Lieut.  Col.  Isaac  Corse,  of  Queens,  and  Major 
Nathaniel  Woodhull,  of  Suffolk,  amounting  to  668,  under  captains  Elias  Hand,  of  Suffolk, 
Richard  Hewlett,  of  Queens,  Thomas  Arrowsmith,  of  Richmond,  William  Humphrey,  of  Dutch- 
ess, Ebenezer  Seely,  of  Ulster,  and  Peter  Yates  and  Goosen  Van  Schaiek,  of  Albani-. 

The  troops  left  fort  Stanwi.t,  August  14th,  IToS,  and  the  fort  capitulated  the  '27th,  by  which 
the  garrison,  artillery  stores,  and  two  schooners,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors.  The  com- 
mander of  the  fort  was  e.xchanged  for  CoL  Peter  Schuyler,  who  had  been  taken  the  year  before, 


126 


In  1750,  two  battiilioiirt  of  the  New- York  troops  accom- 
paiiied  (ieiieral  Prideaiix  to  Niagara;  and  one  went  witli 
(ion.  Amherst  to  Ticon(k'roii-a ;  and,  it  is  suppo-^cd,  tliat 
Major  AVoodhull  was  made  a  lieutenant  coh)n('l,  and  accom- 
panied the  troops  who  went  on  one  or  other  of  tliese  ex- 
peditions. 

In  ^^areh,  1760.  lie  was  ])romoted  to  the  rank  of  colonel, 
and  commanded  tlie  third  reii'iment  of  Xew-York  troops  in 
the  expedition  against  Camuhi. 

After  the  conqnest  of  (^anada,  lie  was  dischari>'ed  witli 
the  provincial  tiMops.  and  returned  to  the  dntie-  and  eni- 
])l()_vments  ol'  a  pi'i\  ate  <-iri/.en.  with  the  I'epntal  Ion  of  having- 
discluirgcd  the  duties  of  hi>  niilitarv  >tatit.>n-  with  honor  and 
ability .' 

Soon  after  this  period,  the  <i;ovei'nmont  of  (4reat  T>ritain, 
not  >ati-He.l  with  ha\  ill--  the  c'-ontrol  of  the  ti-afle  .,f  the  <'olo- 
nies,  (Ml  K-fi  \  e(  1  1 1  h  ■  pi'wji  M-t  (if  I'ai^iiii;-  a  |-e  \  en  m  ■  frm  1 1  i  heni, 
by  the  inipo-iiiiiii  i.l  dntie-  on  theii-  iniporl-,  to  he  re-ailated, 
as  to  their  extent  and  amount,  solely  by  the  discretion  of  the 
Britl,-li  I'ai'lianu'ut. 

A  doctrine  -o  ho>tile  to  the  principles  of  the  P.ritish  con- 
stitution. :i>  well  a>  to  the  fi-eedoiu  ami  >eciirity  of  the  colo- 
nies, create<l  a  i^-eiieral  excitement,  and  rou>ed  a  s]>irit  of 
resistance  throughout  the  colonies. 

December  :.'>tli.  IT*!'^,  the  a»end)ly  of  New-York  adopted 
a  number  of  >piriteil  re-olfition- ;  and  anioiii;'  othi.'r  thiiiLi's, 
they  in  ^nli-tam-e.  I'ooh  oil  uiianiinou-!\  that  the  people  of 
the  colonio  enjo\ed  iho  >;(nie  i-iuht-  a-  the  piMiple  o]'  K)\jf- 
land  in  not  bein-'  hahle  to  ho  ta\e(|  Imt  1,\  their  own  re|ire- 
sentatives;  that  tlie  rl-ht-  :ind  pri  \  ilo-v- of  the  le-i-lat  ures 
coidd  not  be  ahriil-cil,  -upei.-ei ioi h  alu-.i-ated.  or  annulled; 
and  that  they  had  a  la-ht  to  con-idt  w  ith  the  other  colonies, 
in  nuittcrs  wherein  their  lihertio  mii;-ht  be  atfected.  In 
consequence  of  Avhich.  the  -(.senior,  Sir  Henry  Moore,  on 
the  2d  of  January,  di-^'dsed  them. 

The  people  of  Suifolk  connty.  from  their  iir-t  M^ttleineiit, 
had  held  that  there  could  he  wn  taxation  A\illioiit  rcpre-ent- 
ation  ;  and,  in  ItiTti,  had  refu>e(i  to  ]>i\y  a  lax  inipo-ed  on 
them  by  Governor  Lovelace,  before  they  were  permitted  to 

and  fii  1 1  !■  '  '  li'  '  1-;,  trt  avail  itself  of  tli(;  ■  ; ,  i  .  n,  .  ,  ■  i '  ;  ,  ,  ■  t  .  (luring  the  two 
ensuii 

C'>1  '                           'iiiL'iii^Iied  tiiiii-'  I'  Mlth  a  pact  of 

Iiis  ti"  !  I  .-i-cct  a  battt-i.\'  in  i  .  .1  ihe  unemy's 
fire,           Ill  1  111  iiiiii  iiiiij;  coiniiiauded  tlit-ic  Im  1    uj  l  h  .1  1  .  m  ihhim- li  r  .  -m  1 1  iidur. 

The  Col.  luccived  a  slight  wound,  but  nut  so  severe  as  to  uiiht  Idiu  for  duty.  The  detaoh- 
meot  returned  to  fort  Stanwix  the  Wlh  of  September. 


127 


have  an  assembly,  and  their  descendants  were  now  deter- 
mined to  withstand  a  simiUw  violation  of  their  riglits  by  the 
British  Parliament. 

The  bi-avery,  prudence,  and  patriotism  of  Col.  Woodhull, 
had  procured  him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  They  now  deemed  his  qualifications  peculiarly 
fitted  for  the  crisis,  and  manifested  their  confidence  by  elect- 
ing him  one  of  their  representatives  to  the  new  assembly, 
that  was  summoned  in  the  spring  of  1769. 

March  1st,  1769. — The  people  of  Suffolk  adopted  certain 
instructions  for  William  Nicoll,  esq.,  and  Colonel  Nathaniel 
Woodhull,  their  members  to  the  new  assembly  ;  and,  among 
other  things,  expi'ess  their  confidence  that  they  would  exert 
their  abilities  "  to  preserve  their  freedom  and  the  command 
over  their  own  purses." 

Col.  Woodhull  continued  a  member  of  the  assembly  for 
the  county  of  Suffolk,  utitil  the  dissolution  of  the  colony 
government  in  1775  ;  and  the  firmness  and  patriotism  he 
displayed  during  that  turbulent  period,  endeared  him  to  the 
friends  of  freedom,  and  he  received  the  cordial  approbation 
of  liis  constituents. 

The  people  of  Suffolk,  April  6th,  1775,  appointed  him 
one  of  the  delegates  for  that  county,  to  the  convention 
which  met  in  the  city  of  New- York  the  20th  of  tliat  month, 
to  choose  delegates  to  meet  the  delegates  of  the  other  colo- 
nies, at  Philadelphia,  the  10th  of  May  then  ensuing,  in  order 
to  concert  measures  for  the  restoration  of  harmony  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  colonies. 

In  May,  1775,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  delegates  of  the 
said  county  to  the  provincial  Congress,  which  first  met  at 
New- York,  the  22d  of  the  same  month,  to  co-operate  with 
the  continental  congress,  in  such  measures  as  they  should 
devise  for  the  public  good. 

August  22d,  1775. — The  provincial  congress  re-organized 
the  militia  of  the  colony,  and  soon  after  appointed  Col. 
Woodhull  brigadier-general  of  the  brigade  composed  of  the 
militia  of  Suffolk  and  Queens  ;  and  at  the  same  time  ap- 
pointed Capt.  Jonathan  Lawrence  one  of  the  delegates  from 
Queens  to  the  provincial  congress,  his  major  of  Brigade. 

Col.  Woodhull  was  also  proposed  for  the  office  of  briga- 
dier general  in  the  continental  service,  June  9th,  1776,  wlien 
Gen.  Scott  was  elected  to  that  station,  and  received  the 
support  of  the  members  who  were  acquainted  with  his 
merits. 

38 


128 


Aufjiist  2Stli,  1775. — Goiioral  AYoodlinll  was  elected  pre- 
>i(lc'iit  of  tlie  J*i-o\  iiicial  (.\>wj:vv>^,  and  coiitiiiued  to  preside 
in  that  IkkIv  until  the  Mth  (.f  Aupist,  177<). 

July  9th,  1770. — The  Provincial  Congress  met  at  the 
AVhite  Phiins,  and  on  tlie  first  day  of  their  ineetin_2:,  ratified 
on  the  I'ai-t  of  tlie  peoj^le  of  this  state,  the  dcchiration  of 
Indc'|HMiil('iirc  which  had  heen  adopted  l)y  the  ('.mtiiicntal 
Congrt'ss  on  the  4th  Inst.,  and  iniinrdiat cly  a>>unicd  the 
stj'le  of  "  the  comTiitioii  of  the  [ic(i|ilc  of  tliu  state  of  Xew- 
1l  ork  ;"  and  set  almut  framliiL;- a  ^tnt(■  (■(in>1  it  ut  ion.  which, 
in  consequence  (tf  tliL' intenaii it  ii  of  tlic  w  ar.  and  the  pub- 
lic (hiti(;s  of  the  niendjcrs,  wa>  ii'>\  i-i-iiiplcfcil  till  April,  1777. 

In  the  spring  of  177(5,  it  wa>  a|i|ii'ch('iidtMl  that  the  l)i'it- 
ish  would  shortly  attempt  tlu'  in\a>ion  of  New-York,  and 
preparations  were  made  to  n|Ml  them. 

July  20th,  1776.— The  CMnsriitiuii  ,,n],>red  one  fourth  of 
the  m'ilitia  of  Long-I>laii.|  Im  l.c  di'aficl,  aii.l  to  ready  f>r 
immediate  service.  Tlic-e  aim  uniteil  to  eight  or  nine  hund- 
red men,  and  were  MrLiaiii/.ed  into  two  regiments,  under  Col- 
onel Josiah  Smith  t<i'  Suti'dlk,  and  Colonel  Jeromus  liemsen, 
of  (Queens. 

These  troops  marched  to  Brooklyn  early  in  Augn.-t,  and 
were  placed  under  the  continental  officer  who  comTiianded 
tliere. 

July  29th,  the  convention  met  atHarljem,  to  which  jJace 
they  had  liefoi'e  adjuuriied. 

Augii>t  lotli  -  (reiieral  Woodhidl  ohtained  leave  of  ab- 
sence in  order,  it  would  seem,  to  visit  liis  family  and  arrange 
lus  domestic  affairs,  probably  imdei-  a'l  iiiipressiou  that  liis 
services  would  shortly  be  reijiiireij  in  the  field. 

Augu>t  L'l'd. — The  convention  were  informed  tliat  the 
P>ritisli  ti'(in|i~  were  landing,  and  that  they  were  su+fering 
for  provisions,  and  they  deemed  it  of  great  importance  to 
prevent  their  obtaining  sup])lies. 

August  21.- — The  convention  ordered  out  tlie  militia  of 
Queen-,  the  two  troops  .if  lior>e.  of  King-  and  ( Jin'en>.  and 
one  lialfnf  ilir  \\(-|ei-n  I'egiiiieiit  uf  Sntfolk.  with  ti\c  days 
provi^ioll^,  under  the  command  ot'  (.eiiei'al  W.i<i(llinll.  wlio 
was  ordered  to  march  into  ■•tlie  western  ].ait>  nt'  (Jneeiis 
county,"  and  to  "  use  all  po--ilile  diligence  tu  prevent  the 
stock  and  other  provisions  tVnni  lallin-' into  the  hands  of  tlie 
enemy,  either  by  removing  <ii'  de-irMX  ing  them." 

The  same  day,  the  convent  inn  ]ia>-ed  sev  eral  resolutions, 
prescribing,  in  detail,  the  mode  in  which  they  wished  their 


129 


orders  executed.  They  also  sent  William  Smith  and  Samnel 
Townsend,  esq'rs.  two  of  their  members,  to  General  Wash- 
ington, witli  a  copy  of  their  resolutions,  who  were  instruct- 
ed to  state  to  him,  that  the  convention  were  of  opinion  that 
it  would  be  "  extremely  difficult,  if  not  impracticable,  to 
effect  the  objects  of  their  resolutions,  without  an  additional 
force,  and  to  submit  to  his* Excellency's  consideration  the 
propriety  of  ordering  Col.  Smith's  and  Col.  Eemsen's  regi- 
ments to  join  the  troops  under  General  Woodhull." 

Sunday,  August  25th. — General  Woodhull  wrote  to  the 
convention,  and  from  their  answer,  it  would  seem,  stated 
what  woukl  be  necessary  to  keep  the  troops  togetlier,  and 
to  enable  him  to  execute  their  orders. 

On  the  26th,  Messrs.  Smith  and  Townseiid  reported  that 
they  liad  waited  on  General  Washington — that  to  tlieir  re- 
quest respecting  Smith  and  Eemsen's  regiments,  he  replied 

that  he  was  afraid  it  was  too  late,"  but  that  he  would  im- 
mediately give  orders  for  those  two  regiments  to  marcli 
into  (Queens  county  to  join  General  Woodhull. 

On  tlie  same  day.  the  convention  wrote  to  General  Wood- 
hulh  and  informed  him  that  they  had  applied  to  General 
Washington  to  send  Smith  and  Eemsen's  regiments  to  join 
him,  t(»  which  lie  had  assented,  and  that  they  expected  that 
they  were  by  that  time  on  the  ground.  On  the  same  day, 
tliey  also  sent  him  the  resolutions  which  they  liad  adopted 
on  the  24tli,  with  instructions,  which  seem  not  to  have  reach- 
ed him  till  the  next  morning. 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th,  General  Woodliull  wrote  to  the 
convention  from  iTaraaica.  He  acknowledged  the  receipt  of 
their  resolutions,  and  stated  that  he  had  removed  all  the  cat- 
tle west  and  south  of  the  hills — that  he  did  not  believe  that 
Smith  and  Eemsen  would  be  able  to  join  him  with  their  regi- 
ments, and  that  unless  they  could  send  him  some  other  assis- 
tance, he  apprehended  that  he  should  soon  be  obliged  to  quit 
that  part  of  the  country. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  the  General  again  wrote 
by  express,  and  stated  that  about  100  men  of  the  western 
regiment  of  SiilFolk  had  arrived  the  day  before ;  that  about 
40  of  the  militia  of  Queens  county  had  joined  him,  Mdiich 
with  about  50  of  the  two  companies  of  horse,  of  Kings  and 
Queens,  composed  his  whole  force,  and  were  nearly  all  that 
he  expected — that  he  was  within  six  miles  of  the  enemy's 
camp — that  their  horse  had  been  within  two  miles  of  him,  and 
that  without  more  men,  his  stay  could  answer  no  purpose. 


130 


Tlie  General,  at  the  same  time  sent  .Tonatliun  Lawrence, 
eM[.,  his  brigade  major,  to  tlie  convention,  to  enforce  liis 
icj)resentations. 

lie  tliat  day  removed  the  cattle  from  Xevvtown,  and  sta- 
tioned his  troops  that  night  about  two  miles  east  of  Jamaica, 
where  he  himself  remained. 

The  convention  unfortunately  never  met  on  tlic  '^Ttli,  and 
business  was  transacted  by  tlie  connnittee  of  safety,  whicli 
was  probably  the  icii-i'ii  wliy  the  cxin-t'ss,  vvlio  returned  on 
the  morning  of  tlic  Ll^ih.  Iumh-IiI  ik. tiling  but  a  copy  of  the 
communications  of  t  lie       li.  \\  liich  Imd  been  befoi-c  I'ccci vetl. 

On  the  same  inuniin-  ofilic  I'^lh,  (iciu-i-al  \V  llnill 

wrote  his  last  letter  to  the  con \  i'iit  ion,  in  w  hlcli  he  oun- 
plaiued  of  their  inattention  to  his  situation — that  in  the  let- 
ter received  by  his  express,  they  had  only  reiu  ;itc(l  what 
they  had  before  coniminiicateil,  witlioiit  answering  lii>  hit- 
ters, or  the  message  by  hi-  bi-igude  major,  lie  >tate(l  that 
he  had  collected  and  >cnt  oif  about  I  |no  cattle  witli  u-nards 
to  the  eastward  ;  and  liad  ordered  the  inliiibitaiir- that,  in 
case  he  should  not  receive  a  reinforcement,  to  i-eniii\e  the 
remainder — that  his  troops  were  reduced  to  le^s  than 
men,  and  were  daily  diminishing,  and  that  both  men  and 
horses  were  worn  down  by  fatigue. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2yth,  the  convention  sent  Major 
Lawrence  to  (lieneral  Washington  with  a  letter,  enclosing 
(General  Woodhuirs  letter  of  the  pi'eceding  evening,  and 
stated  it  to  be  their  o])inion  that  the  >tiick  on  the  I-land 
might  be  saved  from  the  enemy  by  the  aid  of  Smith  and 
Kemsen's  regiments,  and  that  it  was  practicable  to  send 
them  there. 

On  the  receipt  of  General  \\'  llmllV  letter  of  tliat  morn- 
ing, tlie  c.  .n  \eiition  appointed  .li.lin  Sid--  llobart  and  rlames 
Town.-eiid,  cMj'rs.,  two  of  their  membeiv,  to  repair  to  (iene- 
ral  WoodhuU  to  aid  him  with  their  counsel.  They,  however, 
unhappily,  never  reached  him. 

The  convention  also  sent  David  (^elston,  es([..  another  of 
their  member-,  to  the  governi.ir  of  ( 'onnei-ticut.  to  >olicit  him 
to  send  over  liiOO  of  the  militia  of  that  state  to  aid  the  mili- 
tia on  Long-Island. 

Under  tlie  ini])ression  that  Smith  and  Kemsen's  regi- 
ments would  be  sent  to  reinforce  General  Woodliull,  the 
convention  sent  Mr.  Van  Wyck,  a  niemlx  i'  lium  (Jueens 
county,  to  Flushing,  to  make  arrangement>  tor  their  trans- 
jtortation. 


131 


At  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  28th,  Major  Lawrence 
returned  with  a  letter  from  General  Washington  to  the  con- 
vention, in  which  he  informed  them  that  his  situation  was 
such  that  Smith  and  Remsen's  regiments  could  not  be 
spared. 

The  convention  immediately  appointed  Samuel  Towns- 
end,  esq.,  another  memher  from  Queens,  to  convey  the  in- 
telligence to  General  Woodhull,  then  too  late  to  be  of  any 
service  to  him. 

Tlie  same  evening  the  convention  resolved  to  adjourn,  to 
meet  at  Fishkill  the  ensuing  Monday,  the  2d  of  September, 
which  was  suspended  by  notice  of  a  motion  to  I'e-consider 
the  vote,  which,  on  the  morning  of  the  29th,  was  put,  and 
lost,  and  they  adjourned  agreeable  to  tlie  resolution  of  the 
preceding  evening. 

At  this  critical  moment,  tlio  situation  of  General  Wood- 
hull  was  peculiarly  eniliai-ni—iiig.  If  he  had  not  received 
encouragement  that  he  >liould  be  relieved,  the  smallness  of 
his  force  would  have  justified  an  immediate  retreat. 

Every  communication  from  the  convention,  from  whom 
he  received  his  orders,  iniported  it  to  be  their  wish  that  he 
should  retain  his  station  in  the  western  part  of  Queens 
county,  and  encouraged  him  to  expect  a  reinforcement. 
The  omission  of  any  intelligence  to  the  contrary,  with  the 
delay  of  the  return  of  his  brigade  major,  who  was  detained 
by  the  convention,  was  calculated  to  strengthen  that  expect- 
ation. 

To  have  retreated  under  these  circumstances  would  have 
been  a  violation  of  military  rules,  and  in  case  of  reliefs  being- 
sent,  would  have  been  deemed  highly  dishonorable. 

In  this  emergency  the  General  had  no  counsel  but  his  own 
huncirable  feelings  to  consult,  and  he  adopted  the  course 
which  they  dictated.  He  resolved  not  to  make  a  linal  re- 
treat until  he  heard  from  the  convention. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  the  General  ordered  his 
troops  to  fall  back,  and  take  a  station  about  four  miles  east 
of  Jamaica,  and  there  to  remain  till  further  orders. 

The  General  remained  at  Jamaica  till  afternoon,  in  mo- 
mentary expectation  of  a  message  from  the  convention. 
He  then  retired  slowly  with  oidy  one  or  two  companions, 
still  indulging  the  hope  of  intelligence  from  the  convention, 
until  he  fe'll  a  sacrifice  to  his  reliance  on  their  vigilance  and 
his  own  high  sense  of  military  honor,  which  forbid  his  aban- 
doning the  station  assigned  him,  however  perilous,  before 


132 


lie  was  assured  that  relief  was  hopeless,  or  he  had  orders  to 
that  effect. 

A  severe  thunder  sliower,  as  is  supposed,  obliged  liim  to 
take  refuge  in  a  puhlic  house  about  two  miles  east  of  Ja- 
maica, and  lu'tuie  he  left  it,  he  was  overtaken  by  a  detach- 
ment of  tlic  17th  regiment  of  British  dragoons,  and  tlie  71st 
regiment  Ih-itisli  iiitaiitry,  accompanied  by  some  of  the  dis- 
atiected  iidiabitants  as  ])ilots. 

The  General  immediately  gave  up  his  sword  in  token  of 
his  surrender.  Tlie  ruffian  who  first  approached  him,  (said 
to  be  a  Major  Baird,  of  the  71-t.i  a-  is  i-ciMirtcd,  ordered 
him  to  say,  "God  save  tlif  Kin-  ;""  the  (.ciici-al  I'ciilicd, 
"God  save  us  all,"  on  whicli  iic  m.i-t  (-(.wai'illy  and  ciaiclly 
assailed  the  defenceless  General  \\  \\\\  hi-  l)rci;iil  -wcinl.  and 
would  have  killed  him  upon  the  >iMit.  it'  lir  had  imt  Itcen 
prevented  by  the  intci-fciciico  of  an  officer  of  mure  honor 
and  humanity,  (said  {<<  Ik-  Maj.ir  Delancey  of  the  dragoons,) 
wlio  arrested  his  savage  v  iMlcncc. 

Tlie  General  was  hadl  v  wdunded  in  the  head,  and  one  of 
his  arms  was  mangled  fimii  1  lie  shoulder  to  the  wrist.  He 
was  then  taken  to  Jamaica,  w  In  rr  his  wounds  were  di-cssi>d, 
and  with  other  prisoners,  wa>  cuiitiiicd  in  the  ^tmic  (dnireh 
there,  till  some  time  the  next  day.  He  was  then  con\eyed 
to  Gravesend,  and  with  about  eighty  other  prisoners,  (of 
which  nund)er  Col.  Bobert  Troup,  of  New- York,  was  one,) 
was  ciintiiM  d  in  a  \\liich  had  been  employed  to  trans- 

port -i.m  I,  Imi'  tlic  ii-c  (if  the  army,  and  was  without  ac- 
eomnio(iati(in>  lur  hralth  nv  comfort. 

The  General  wa-  iflca>iMl  W-mn  the  vessel,  on  the  remon- 
strance of  an  othcer  w  lio  bail  more  humanity  than  his  supe- 
riors, and  was  removed  to  an  house  near  the  church  in  New- 
Utrecht,  where  he  was  permitted  to  receive  some  attendance 
and  medical  assistance. 

A  cut  in  tip  j.iint  nt'  the  elbow  rendered  an  amputation 
of  the  arm  ni  i  ('--ary.  As  soon  as  this  was  resolved  on,  the 
General  sent  for  his  wife,  with  a  rc([ne>t  that  >lic  \\nuld 
bring  with  her  all  the  money  that  she  liad  in  liei-  |".--e--iiin, 
and  all  that  she  could  ]>i'ocure,  \vln(di  \\a>  cnmiiliiMl  with, 
and  he  hail  it  di-ti-ilmted  anmng  the  Aniei-ieaii  i-ri-unei-s,  to 
alleviate  their  :-uffi'ring-.  tlni>  funii-liing  a  le--(in  nf  huniaii- 
ity  to  his  enemies,  and  ch  i-ing  a  n>et'ul  lite  \>y  an  act  of  charity. 

He  then  suffered  the  aminitatidii.  w  hich  mkmi  i->ue(l  in  a 
mortification,  which  terminated  his  life  Septcndjer  the  2<lth, 
177f',  in  the  o4th  year  of  his  age. 


133 


The  General  left  only  one  cliild,  who  is  now  living  on  her 
paternal  estate  at  Mastic,  in  Brookhaven,  and  is  the  widow 
of  the  late  General  John  Smith,  deceased. 

It  is  said  that  one  of  the  battalions  that  was  employed  in 
this  inglorious  warfare  against  an  unresisting  individual,  or 
some  other  one,  was  commanded  by  a  Major  Crew,  a  distant 
kinsman  of  the  General,  and  that  when  he  came  to  be  ap- 
prized of  that  fact,  and  of  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  he 
was  so  disgusted  that  he  either  resigned  his  commission  and 
quit  the  service,  or  obtained  permission  to  leave  the  army 
and  returned  to  England.  Tlie  whole  of  the  transactions  of 
that  period,  bear  the  marks  of  inexperience  and  improvi- 
dence, of  precipitation  and  alarm. 

The  talents  of  General  Woodhull  were  adapted  to  a  mili- 
tary station.  With  personal  courage,  he  possessed  judg- 
ment, decision,  and  Knuiiess  of  cliaracter,  tempered  with 
conciliating  mainici's,  wliicli  cnimiiaiiiled  the  respect  and 
obedience  of  his  tn)(i[>s,  and  at  the  same  time,  secured  tlieir 
confidence  and  esteem. 

He  had  naore  military  experience  than  most  of  the  early 
officers  of  the  revolutionary  army,  and  no  one  in  this  state, 
at  that  time,  promised  to  make  a  better  general  officer. 

The  nature  of  the  service  in  which  the  General  was  em- 
ployed and  the  force  placed  under  his  command,  were  alike 
unworthy  of  him. 

The  object  of  the  expedition  was  to  compel  the  enemy 
to  retire,  or  to  weaken  them  and  bring  them  to  terms,  by 
preventing  their  obtaining  the  means  of  subsistence,  either 
by  removing  the  supplies  out  of  their  reach,  or  by  destroy- 
ing them. 

It  was  not  intended  that  the  troops  under  his  command 
should  join  the  army,  or  engage  any  portion  of  the  enemy, 
except  such  as  should  be  detached  in  pursuit  of  supplies  ; 
nor  would  his  force,  if  it  had  all  been  collected,  have  been 
adequate  to  more  important  exertions.  The  expedition  was 
more  suitable  for  the  command  of  a  subordinate  officer  ;  and 
prudence  would  have  dictated  that  the  General  should  have 
been  reserved  for  a  service  in  which  his  talents  and  experi- 
ence were  needed,  and  in  which  they  could  have  been  ex- 
erted. 

Before  the  27th,  while  the  American  army  held  the  enemy 
in  check,  and  prevented  their  detaching  any  considerable 
force  from  their  main  body,  there  was  some  ground  for  the 
convention  to  believe  that  a  reinforcement  of  Smith  and 


134 


lioinsieii's  roiriiiients  -would  euaMe  General  Woodluill  to 
effect  the  olijec-ts  of  tlie  expedition,  and  tlie  want  of  infor- 
mation that  tlie  clianjies  in  the  army  before  that  time  i)re- 
vented  those  regiments  being  sent  to  reinforce  General 
"VVoodhull,  agreeable  to  the  encouragement  which  they  had 
received  from  the  commander-in-chief,  authorized  them  to 
re(jnire  him  to  keep  his  station.  After  that  day  the  scene 
was  changed.  The  fatal  neglect  to  guaid  tlie  left  wing  of 
the  American  army  in  the  aclinii  ut  tlic  I'Ttli.  furnished  an 
inroad  for  the  enemy,  by  wliidi  they  intciTcptiMl  and  sur- 
prised the  troops  engaged  with  their  cent  re  and  left  wing — 
surnnmded  the  American  eiicanipnient  cut  otf  all  connnu- 
nication  with  (ienei-al  W'nodhnll,  and  were  at  liherty  to  send 
what  force  they  ]ilea>ed  again>t  liini. 

The  General,  in  hi<  lettei->  of  that  date,  intimated  his  be- 
lief that  the  relief  tliey  -nu^ht  had  become  im])ractical)le, 
and  evidentls  indicate'd  a  w  i>h  foi'  onlers  to  retire.  .\  dis- 
regard of  Id.-  >ugge~tiMii~  liv  the  convention,  cau>e(l  the  de- 
lay which  resulteij  in  Id-  capture. 

If  the  aid  of  Smith  and  Remsen's  regiments  conld  have 
been  obtained,  it  would  liave  been  unavailing.  It  was  in 
vain  to  expect  that  louii  militia  could  withstand  a  force  be- 
fore wdiich  the  American  army  had  retired,  and  it  was  idle 
to  make  further  ettbrts  to  procure  the  reinforcement. 

The  change  effected  in  the  relations  of  the  two  armies  by 
the  action  of  the  I'Tth,  iiuloed  defeated  the  object  of  the  ex- 
pedition, and  rendered  tlie  furtli(>r  prosecution  of  it  useless 
and  impracticable,  and  the  convention  owed  it  to  themselves 
as  well  as  to  General  AVoodhuU  to  issue  immediate  orders 
for  him  to  retire. 

The  omission  of  the  convention  also  to  t'stablish  a  regu- 
lar and  constant  correspondence  with  the  (General,  kept 
him  in  ignorance  of  the  oper.itions  of  the  two  arnnes,  as 
well  as  of  their  own  mea-uiv-.  ami  |ire\-eiited  his  taking 
those  precautions  for  hi>  u\\\i  >al'et\  wldcdi  his  situation  re- 
quired. 

The  capture  of  General  "Woodhull  was  one  of  the  most 
calamitous  events  of  that  disastrous  period.  It  deprived 
the  country  of  the  talents,  the  experience  and  counsels  of 
one  of  the  ablest  and  most  ]iatriotic  of  her  citi/.en>. 

The  cruel  and  da>tai'dly  treatment  of  a  pia-oiier.  e>pe- 
cially  ofhisraid<  and  character,  after  a  peacealile  >ui'|-ender, 
roused  a  spirit  of  iiidiguatiou  in  the  lireast  of  every  honest 
ami  disinterested  man. 


135 


It  contributed  to  alienate  the  affections  of  the  people  from 
a  country,  whose  officers  were  capable  of  snch  unprincii)]c<l 
barbarit}^,  and  to  strengthen  tlie  determination  of  all  ranks, 
to  adhere  to  the  resolution  then  recently  adopted  by  the 
continental  congress  and  the  convention  of  this  state,  to 
render  the  United  States  independent  of  her  control. 

General  Woodhull  was  as  much  distinguished  for  his  pri- 
vate and  domestic  virtues  as  for  liis  zeal  for  the  rights  of  Lis 
country,  and  was  held  in  tlie  highest  estimation  by  all  those 
who  enjoyed  his  society,  or  had  tlie  pleasure  of  an  intimate 
acquaintance  with  him. 

His  death  spread  a  gloom  over  Long-Island — was  univer- 
sally lameuted  by  the  friends  of  freedom,  to  whom  he  was 
known,  as  well  as  by  all  those  to  whom  he  was  endeared  by 
social  relations ;  and  while  the  American  revolution  con- 
tinues to  be  a  subject  of  gratitude  with  the  people  of  Long- 
Island,  liis  memory  will  be  cherished  among  their  fondest 
recollections.   

Correspondence  hehveen  General  Woodh  ull  and  the 
Convention. 

August  35th,  1776,  General  Woodhull  wrote  to  the  con- 
vention. Tlie  letter  cannot  be  found,  but  the  contents  may 
be  inferred  from  the  following  answer : 

August  26i!A,  1776. 

Sir — Yours  of  yesterday  is  just  come  to  hand,  in  answer 
to  which  we  would  inform  you  that  Robert  Townsend,  the 
son  of  Samuel  Townsend,  esq.,  is  appointed  commissary  for 
the  troops  under  your  command,  of  which  we  hope  you  will 
give  him  the  earliest  notice ;  and  that  we  have  made  appli- 
cation to  General  Washington  for  the  regiments  under  the 
"command  of  Cols.  Smith  and  Remsen,  to  join  you.  He  as- 
sured our  committee  that  he  would  issue  out  orders  imme- 
diately for  that  purpose,  and  we  expect  that  they  are  upon 
the  spot  by  this  time. 

Confiding  in  your  known  prudence  and  zeal  in  the  com- 
mon cause,  and  wishing  you  tlie  protection  and  blessing  of 
heaven, 

We  are,  with  respect, 

Your  very  humble  servants. 

By  order,  &c.       ABRAHAM  YATES,  Jun. 

To  Gen.  ISTatiianiel  Woodhull. 

40 


136 


Jaraaica,  August  '2.1th,  ITT^). 

(lOiitlemcn — I  am  now  at  Jamaica  with  le?s  tlian  10(I  men, 
liaviiiij;  brouiilit  all  tlie  cattle  trom  the  westward  and  south- 
ward of  the^iills,  and  have  sent  them  ntl'  with  the  troops  ot 
horse,  with  orders  to  take  all  the  rest  ea^tw;ii'd  of  this  place, 
to  the  eastward  of  lleni)istead  Tlains,  to  put  them  into  fields 
and  to  set  a  guard  over  them. 

The  enemy,  1  am  informed,  are  entrenching  southward, 
and  from  the  heights  near  Howard's. 

I  have  now  received  yours,  with  several  resolutions,  which 
I  wish  it  was  in  my  power  to  ])Ut  in  execution  ;  l)ut  uidess 
Cols.  Smith  and  Ivemsen,  mentioned  in  youi-s,  jdin  me  with 
their  regiments,  or  some  other  assistance  immediately,  I 
shall  net  lie  ahlc.  for  the  i)e«)p]e  are  all  moving  east,  and  I 
canntit  get  any  assistance  from  them.  I  shall  continue  here 
as  long  as  I  can,  in  hopes  of  a  reinforcement;  but  if  none 
comes  soon,  I  shall  retreat  and  drive  the  stock  before  me 
into  the  woods. 

Coh.  Smitli  and  Eemsen,  I  think,  cannot  join  me.  Vn- 
less  you  can  >end  me  some  other  assistance,  I  fear  I  shall 
soon  be  obliged  to  quit  this  place.  I  hope  soon  to  hear  from 
yuu. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  most  humble  serv't., 

NATHANIEL  WOODHULL. 
To  the  Hon.  Convention  of) 
the  State  of  New- York.  \ 

Westward  of  Queens  County^  August  'ilth,  1770. 
Gentlemen — Inclosed  I  send  you  a  letter  from  Col.  Pot- 
ter, who  left  me  yesterday  at  11  o'clock,  after  bringing  about 
liMi  men  to  me  at  .lainaica.  ^lajor  Smith,  I  expect,  has  all 
the  rest  that  were  to  come  tV(im  Snttblk  county.  There 
have  about  4n  of  tlic  militia  joiiic(l  me  from  the  regiments 
in  Quccii-  county,  and  about  .">(»  of  the  troops  belonging  to 
Kings  and  (^)ueeus  couutic>.  ^\•ln(•l:  i>  iUMi-ly  all  I  expect.  I 
have  got  all  the  cattle  soutli  w  ai-d  oi'  the  hills  in  Kings 
County,  to  the  eastward  of  tlie  cross-road  between  the  two 
counties,  and  have  placed  guards  and  sentinels  from  the 
north  road  to  the  south  side  of  the  Island,  in  order  to  pre- 
vent the  cattle"-,  going  back,  and  to  prevent  the  (Mimmuiiica- 
tioii  of  the  I'oi'ie-  w  ith  the  enemy.  I  am  witliiu  about  six 
miles  of  the  eiieniy's  camp;  their  light  horse  have  been 
within  about  two  miles,  and  unless  I  have  more  men,  our 


137 


stay  here  will  answer  no  purpose.  We  shall  soon  want  to 
be  supplied  with  provisions,  if  we  tarry  here. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  vour  most  ob'dt.  humble  serv't., 
NATHANIEL  WOODIIULL. 
The  Hon.  Convention  of  New- ) 
York,  at  Harla'm.  ( 

Jamaica,  August  2St/i,  1776. 
Gentlemen — I  wrote  two  letters  to  you  yesterday,  one 
I'V  express  and  another  by  Mr.  Harper,  and  also  sent  my 
lirigade-major  to  you,  to  let  you  know  my  situation,  and  I 
expected  an  answer  to  one  of  them  last  night,  but  my  ex- 
press informed  me  that  he  was  detained  till  last  night  for  an 
answer. 

I  have  now  received  yours  of  the  26th,  which  is  only  a 
copy  of  the  last,  without  a  single  word  of  answer  to  my  let- 
ter, or  the  message  by  my  brigade-major.  I  must  again  let 
you  know  my  situation.  I  have  about  70  men  and  about 
20  of  the  troop,  which  is  all  the  force  I  have  or  can  expect, 
and  I  am  daily  <;-i-owing  less  in  number.  The  people  are  so 
alarmed  in  Sutiolk,  that  they  will  not  any  more  of  them 
march ;  and  as  to  Cols.  Smith  and  Remsen,  they  cannot  join 
me,  for  the  communication  is  cut  otf  between  us.  I  have 
M'lit  about  lltiO  cattle  to  tlie  great  tields  on  the  plains,  yes- 
terday. About  300  more  have  gone  off  this  morning  to  the 
Mime  i)lace,  and  I  have  ordered  a  guard  of  an  othcer  and 
>even  privates.  They  can  get  no  water  in  those  tields.  My 
men  and  horses  are  worn  out  with  fatigue.  The  cattle  are 
not  all  gone  otf  towards  Hempstead.  I  ordered  them  off 
yesterday ;  but  they  were  not  able  to  take  them  along.  I 
yesterday  brought  about  300  from  Newtown.  I  think  the 
cattle  are  in  as  much  danger  on  the  north  side  as  on  the 
south  side ;  and  have  ordered  the  inhabitants  to  remove 
them,  if  you  cannot  send  me  an  immediate  reinforcement. 
I  am,  A:c., 

NATHANIEL  WOODHULL. 
The  Hon.  Convention  of  ( 
New- York.  f 

Correspondence  hetvoeen  theCUru  renthm  and  (icn.  ^Vils])  ho/fon. 

Wednesdaij  mnrnnnj,  An,j.  -1^1],.  1T7»;. 
Sir-— I  am  commanded  by  the  convention  to  enclo.-e  to 
your  Excellency  the  copy  of  a  letter  they  received  last  even- 


138 


ins;  from  Gen.  Woodlnill.  The  convention  are  of  opinion 
tliat  the  enemy  muv  he  prevented  tVuni  ^ettino;  tlie  stock 
and  <>;rain  on  LoTiii--'Tsland,  if  tlie  rciiiiiiciits  under  tlie  com- 
mand of  Col.  Smith  and  ( 'ul.  IJcm-cri  lie  >f\it  tu  iuiii  (tcii. 
Woodhnll.  Tliat  tllI^  juiictiMii  may  1m>  ctfcctcd. 'and  how. 
Major  Lawrence,  who  is  a  nicndici-  of  thi-  iMnivt-ntitm  and 
tlie  bearer  hereof,  will  inform  xonr  IIxci  IK  ik  y. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  iiicai  i( -pcct, 
Yonr  Excellency's  most  dlMMliriit  -rrvaiit. 

By  order,        AUKAllA.M  YATES. 
His  Excellency,  (Tcn.  WAsniNoroN. 

LoiKj-lsl (111(1 .  A<i<j.  2Sf7i.  1776. 
Sir — I  was  jnst  now  honored  witli  yonr  favoi- of  tliis  date, 
with  General  Woodlmirs  letter,  and  should  estei'in  myself 
liappy,  were  it  in  my  [lowei- to  alfoi'd  tlie  as>istaiice  I'eipured. 
but  the  enemy  haN  iiiij;  landed  a  considerable  }iart  of  their 
force  here,  and  at  the  same  time  may  have  re>er\  ed  some 
to  attack  New- York,  it  is  the  opinion,  not  only  of  myr-elf. 
but  of  all  my  "-eneral  othcers  I  have  had  an  opi)ortninty  (jf 
consnltiiiu'  w  ith,  that  the  men  we  have  are  uot  more  than 
competent  to  the  defense  of  those  lines,  and  the  several  posts 
which  must  be  defended.  This  reason,  and  this  alone,  pre- 
vents my  complying  with  your  request.  I  shall  beg  leave 
to  mention,  in  confidence,  that  a  few  days  ago.  upon  the 
enemy's  first  landing  here,  I  wrote  to  Governor  Trumludl, 
recommending  him  to  throw  over  a  body  of  1000  men  on  the 
Island  to  annoy  the  enemy  in  the  rear,  if  the  state  of  the 
colony  would  admit  of  it.  Whether  it  will  be  done  I  can- 
not determine.  That  colony  having  funushed  a  large  pro- 
portion of  men,  I  was,  and  >till  am,  doubtful  whether  it  could 
be  done.  If  it  could,  1  am  satisfied  it  will,  from  the  zeal 
and  readiness  they  have  ever  shown  to  give  ever}'  possible 
succour.  I  am  hopeful  they  will  be  in  a  condition  to  do  it ; 
and  if  they  are,  those  troo])s,  I  doubt  not,  will  be  ready  and 
willing  to  gi\c  (leiieral  ^Voodhull  any  as>istance  he  may 
want.  But  caiiiiot  the  militia  effect  what  he  wishes  to  do'^ 
They,  I  believe,  must  be  depended  on  hi  the  present  instance 
for  relief. 

I  have  tlie  honor  to  be,  in  great  haste, 

Sir,  your  most  obedieut  servant, 

GEOIUtE  WASHINGTON. 
The  Hon.  AiuiAiiAJi  Yatks. 


139 


Continuation  of  the  correspondeneeljy  the  Committee  of  Safety 
Khyfs  Bridge,  Aug.  30th,  1776. 

Sir — ^In  our  way  to  Fislikill,  agreeable  to  an  adjournment 
of  the  convention,  we  are  informed  tliat  tlie  army  on  Long- 
Island  is  removed  to  the  city  of  New-York  ;  and  anxiety  to 
know  the  fact,  as  well  as  to  be  informed  whether  you  think 
any  measures  necessary  for  us  to  take,  induces  us  to  trouble 
your  Excellency  at  this  time  for  an  answer  hereto.  We 
have  ordered,  last  night,  all  the  militia  of  the  counties  of 
Ulster,  Dutchess,  Orange  and  Westchester,  to  be  ready,  on 
a  minute's  warning,  with  five  days'  provisions.  We  shall 
wait  the  return  of  our  messenger  at  this  place,  and  are, 
Sir,  your  most  obed't  and  very  humble  serv't. 

By  order,      ABRAHAM  YATES,  Jr. 

His  Excellency,  Gen.  Washington. 

Aagmt  30th,  1776. 
Sir — Your  favor  of  this  date  is  just  come  to  hand.  Cir- 
cumstanced as  this  army  was,  in  respect  to  situation,  strength. 
Arc,  it  was  the  unanimous  advice  of  a  council  of  general 
officers,  to  give  up  Long-Island,  and  not  by  dividing  our 
force,  be  unable  to  resist  the  enemy  in  any  one  point  of  at- 
tack. This  reason,  added  to  some  others,  particularly  the 
fear  of  having  our  communication  cut  off  from  the  main,  of 
which  there  seemed  to  be  no  small  probability,  and  the  ex- 
treme fatigue  our  troops  were  laid  under  in  guarding  such 
extensive  lines  without  proper  shelter  from  the  weather,  in- 
duced the  above  resolution. 

It  is  the  most  intricate  thing  in  the  world,  sir,  to  know  in 
Avhat  manner  to  conduct  one's  self  with  respect  to  the  mili- 
tia. If  you  do  not  begin  many  days  before  tliey  are  wanted 
to  raise  them,  you  cannot  have  tlieni  in  time.  If  you  do, 
they  get  tired  and  return,  besides  being  imder  very  little 
order  or  government  whilst  in  service. 

However,  if  the  enemy  have  a  design  of  serving  us  at 
this  place,  as  we  apprehend  they  meant  to  do  on  Long-Island, 
it  might  not  be  improper  to  have  a  body  in  readiness,  to 
prevent  or  retard  a  landing  of  them  east  of  Ilarltem  river, 
if  need  be. 

In  haste,  and  not  a  little  fatigued, 

I  remain,  with  great  respect  and  esteem. 

Sir,  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

GEORGE  WASIimGTOX. 
The  Hon.  Abraham  Yates,  Esq. 

41 


140 


A  List  of  the  Field  Officers  and  Captains  of  the  New-  York 
Troops,  employed  in  the  French  ^^  ar,  in  1758,  59  and  60. 

CHIEF  COLONELS. 

1 759.  1760. 
Jolin  Joliiisoii,  none 

COLONELS. 

Bei'tliol.  Le  Roux, 


1758. 
Oliver  Delancey, 

Taylor  Woolsey, 
Beamsley  Glacier,  Michael  Thody,f 


Berthol.  Le  Bonx, 
Isaac  Corsa. 
Kath.  W(M,(lliull. 


Cliarles  Clinton, 
Barthol.  Le  Rouse, 
Isaac  Corsa, 

Xath.Woodluill. 
Michael  Thody, 
George  Brewerton, 

Thomas  Terry, 
Ellas  Hand, 
Gilbert  Potter,:}; 

Richard  Unlet, 
Thomas  Williams, 
Daniel  Wright, 

Peter  Stnyvesant, 


LIEUT.  COLONELS. 

Isaac  Corsa, 


MAJORS. 

Myndert  Roseboom 


CAPTAINS — Snfolk. 
Gilbert  Potter, 
Banial)a>  Tiithill, 
Stephen  Sayre, 

Queens. 
Daniel  Wright, 
Richard  Hulet, 
Ephriam  Mors, 
Jungs. 


George  Brewerton, 
Myndert  Roseboom, 
GoosenVan  Schaick. 

,.T(iIiii  I'nulding, 
-lushua  lUoomer, 
Wm.  W.  lloogan. 

Israel  Horton. 
Jonathan  Baker, 
Jesse  Piatt. 

Daniel  Wriglit. 
Ephriam  Mnr-. 
Geor<; 


Isaac  Middao-h. 


Richmond. 

Thos.  Arrowsmith,  Thos.  Arrowsmith,  Anthony  Waters. 

Peter  Dubois,         Gcoi-c  lii-cwcrton,  Nathaniel  Hubble, 
John  McEvers,       Richard  Smith,       Abm.  De  Forest, 
Francis  Moore,       Amandine  Ellsworth,  Barnabas  Byrnes, 
George  Brewerton,  Tobias  Van  Zant,    Francis  Thody. 

*  One  Col.,  in  175S,  and  one  Lieut.  Col.  and  one  Major,  in  1759,  are  unknown. 

t  A  number  of  these  ofTicers.  as  well  as  the  subalterns  and  privates,  also  served  in  the  revo- 
lutionary war,  and  thf  linuu  and  f\iM-i  icTn-.-  they  .icipiir'-d  in  the  French  war,  was  of  con- 
siderable service  to  lln-  coiinlr^  ,  a  Icu  nl   1 1 1   1 1 1  |  n  nj.-i  I  1 1  ■  llrili^h. 

X  Jacob  Smith,  a  i.i' iIm  i  ■  ■  i   '  . 
company,  receiv.-.l  .i  «  -  uimI  m  i  a.   i.  1 1 

15th,  of  whom  .Majci  W  II, nil.  in 

like  a  soldier  and  a  christian— his  lile  ' 
all  hiii  acquaintance. 


.  ^a  a  -)a!tia.,a  II.  a  li.aiteiiant  in  Capt.  Potter's 
ii  I  a  Mh  I.  ia,j  I,  .lull  -III,  1T.^^,  of  wliich  he  died  the 
I'  l  la  li;>  latlirr,  >a \  s.  he  had  liuhaved  himself  both 
much  desired,  anii  his  death  is  mucli  lamented  by 


141 


Wedcheder. 
1758.  1759.  1760. 

Jolui  Ver  Plank,  William  Gilchrist,  William  Gilchrist, 
Reuben  Lockwood,  James  Holmes,  Jonathan  Haight, 
Jonathan  Ogden,    Joshua  Bloomer,     Henry  Bayens, 

Jonathan  Fowler,   Jonathan  Haight,   

Dutchess. 

John  Pawling,        John  Pawling,        Richard  Rhea, 
William  Huniphrey  Samuel  Bladgley,    Jacobus  Swartwout, 
Samuel  Bladgley,   Jacobns  Swartwout, Peter  Harris, 
Joseph  Crane,        Richard  Rhea,        John  Yan  Ness. 
Orange. 

John  P.  Smith,       James  Howell,       James  Howell, 
James  Howell.  ■  

Ulster. 

Ebenezer  Seely,      James  Clinton,       James  Clinton, 
Steph.  Nottingham, Corns. Van  Beuren,  Corns.  Wyncoop. 
AUmny. 

Peter  Yates,  GoosenYan  Schaick  Stephen  Schuyler, 

Peter  Conyne,  Peter  Conyne,  Christopher  Yates, 
Lucas  Yan  Veghten,  Philip  Lansing,      Peter  Bain, 

GoosenYan  Schaick  Hendrick  Herkimer  • 

Guy  Johnson.  

A  List  of  field  Officers  and  CajMins  of  the  Militia  of 
Long-Island,  who  were  in  service  in  1776. 

Captains  Daniel  Roe,  John  Hnlbert, 

Daniel  Griffin,  John  Davis. 

These  captains,  with  their  companies,  were  stationed  at 
the  east  end  of  the  Island,  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1776, 
under  the  command  of  Col.  Henry  B.  Livingston. 

Within  the  American  lines  at  BrooMyn,  August,  1776. 
Col.  Josiah  Smith,  Col.  Jeromus  Remsen, 

Lieut.  Col.  John  Sands,       Lt.  Col.  Nicholas  Covenhoven. 
Major  xlbraham  Remsen,  Major  Richard  Thorne. 
Captains. 

John  Wickes,  Benjamin  Birdsall, 

Nathaniel  Piatt,  David  Laton, 

Selah  Strong,  John  W.  Seaman, 

Ezekiel  Multbrd,  Daniel  Rapelye, 

Paul  Reeve,  Andrew  Onderdonk. 


142 


O^cem  ivho  were  %oith  Gen.Woodhull,  Aug.  2CM,  27///. 
and  2Sth,  1776. 

Major  Jesse  Brusli ;  Capt.  Alexander  Ketcliam  ;  Lieut. 
Com.  Jonah  Wood ;  do.  Stephen  Abbott,  of  the  Suffolk 
troops. 

Capt.  Ephraim  Bayles,  of  the  troops  from  Queens. 

Kings  Count//  troop  of  JTorse. 
Capt.  William  Boerum,  Lieut.  Thomas  Everit,  Ensign 
Isaac  Sebring. 

Qi/f'i'».s  Cormty  troop  of  Ilorxe. 
Capt.  Daniel  Whitehead,  Lieut. William  Sacket. 

Sketch  of  Col.  William  Smith. 

Col.  William  Smith  was  boi-n  at  IS^ewton  near  Higham 
Ferrei's,  in  N  mim  haiiiiitonshire,  in  England,  February  2d, 
1655. 

It  seems  that  in  his  youth  he  was  destined  for  the  active 
scenes  of  life,  and  it  is  not  probable  that  he  received  either 
a  classical  or  legal  (Mlucatiim.  He  liowcvcr  jiossessed  a  vigor- 
ous mind,  with  a  \ctvatility  i>f  gciiiii>  capable  of  attaining 
distinction  in  any  cnipldyiiiciit  tu  wliicli  it  was  ajiplied. 

The  family  pmliably  wcrr  attaclicd  tn  the  royal  cause,  as 
he  seems  to  have  Keen  in  gi'cat  tavui'  with  ( 'liai'lo  II.,  which 
was  continued  during  tlic  reigns  ut'  James  II.,  William  and 
Mary,  and  Avhile  he  c(iTitiiiiic(l  under  queen  Ann. 

Ciiai'les  II.,  in  1075,  appointed  him  governor  of  Tangiers, 
whicli  ])lace,  as  well  as  Bombay,  was  given  to  him  by  the 
king  of  Portugal,  as  a  part  of  the  marriage  portion  of  his 
wife,  queen  Catliarinc,  tlic  daugliter  of  that  king;  and  he 
probably  at  the  same  time  gave  him  the  commission  of  col- 
onel, and  the  coniniaiid  ot'  the  troops  necessary  to  protect 
an  estahh-hiniMit  on  tliat  ha rharoiis  coast. 

It  \\  a^  intemh'd  to  make  Tangiers  a  place  of  trade,  and 
to  establisli  a  colony  there.  The  project,  however,  did  not 
succeed;  and  in  1683  the  place  was  al)aii(lone(l,  and  Col. 
Smitli  returned  to  England. 

After  hi>  i-etiii'u,hc  cnihai-ke(l  in  trade  in  London,  ami 
coiitinueil  in  l)n-iiie->  iinlil  he  left  the  country. 

It  would  also  seem  that  (Jol.  Smith  wa-  t'oi'  a  ^]lol•t  time 
concerned  in  trade  after  his  arrival  in  ihi-  cMuiitiy.  and 
may  have  come  over  for  that  purpose,  'i  heiv  i>  an  entrv 
of  a  note  on  the  records  of  Brookhaven,  bearing  date  April 


143 


23,  1690,  given  by  Col.  Thomas  Dongan,  the  late  governor 
of  the  province,  to  Col.  Smith,  for  £99  3s.,  purporting  to  be 
for  goods,  in  which  the  colonel  is  styled  a  mercliant. 

Col.  Smith  arrived  with  his  family  at  New- York  August 
6th,  1686.  He  very  early  visited  Brookhaven,  and  seems 
to  have  taken  a  fancy  to  a  valuable '  neck  of  land  there, 
called  Little  Neck,  which  was  held  in  shares  by  various 
proprietors,  who  were  in  some  dispute  about '  the  pre- 
mises. 

Governor  Dongan  aided  him  in  effecting  the  purchase, 
lie  wrote  to  the  proprietors,  and  recomanended  it  to  them 
to  sell  out  to  Col.  Smith,  as  the  best  mode  of  terminating 
the  controversy,  to  which  a  considerable  proportion  of  them 
agreed  ;  and  on  the  22d  October,  1687,  Col.  Smith  made  his 
first  purchase  in  Brookhaven. 

In  1689,  it  is  supposed,  he  removed  to  Brookhaven  with 
his  family,  and  took  up  his  permanent  residence  there. 

After  iiis  settlement  at  Brookhaven,  Col.  Smith  made  a 
purchase  of  a  large  tract  of  country,  extending  from  the 
country  road  to  the  South  Bay,  and  from  the  Fireplace 
river  to  Mastic  river,  to  which  the  town  assented,  and  which 
M'ith  his  former  purchases  was  erected  into  a  manor,  by  the 
name  of  St.  George's  manor,  by  patent  of  Col.  Fletcher  in 
1693;  and  subsequent  to  this  he  purchased  all  the  lands 
unpurchased,  lying  between  his  former  purchase  and  the 
bounds  of  Southampton,  which  were  annexed  to  his  manor 
by  another  patent  of  Col.  Fletcher  in  1697,  whose  grants 
to  individuals  were  so  extravagant,  that  several  of  them 
were  annulled  by  an  act  of  the  colony  legislature,  under  the 
s\;cceeding  administration. 

Governor  Slaughter  arrived  at  JSTew-Yoi'k,  March  19th, 
1691,  and  on  the  25th  he  appointed  Col.  Smith  one  of  the 
members  of  the  council ;  he  also  appointed  him  one  of  the 
commissioners  of  oyer  and  terminer,  which  tried  and  con- 
victed Leisler  and  liis  associates. 

The  >ii|iiTine  court  was  est;ibli>lic(l  by  an  act  of  the  legis- 
laturr,  Afav  <',tli,  1691;  consi>tiii^-  uf  a  chief  justice,  with  a 
salary  of  .iloU  ;  a  second  judgt\  with  a  salary  of  £100  ;  and 
three  other  judges,  Avithout  a  salary.  On  the  15th,  the 
governor  and  council  appointed  Joseph  Dudley  chief  justice, 
Thomas  Johnson  the  second  judge,  and  Col.  Smith,  Stephen 
Yan  Cortland,  and  William  rinliorne  the  other  judges. 
Col.  Smith  was  at  the  same  time  ap[)ointed  judge  or  dele- 
gate of  the  prerogative  court  for  the  county  of  Suffolk. 


144 


Col.  Fletcher  arrived  and  took  upon  liim  the  government, 
Ani^ust  29tli,  1692. 

November  11th,  1692,  the  seat  of  Joseph  Dudley  was 
vacated  for  non-residen(;e,  and  Col.  Smith  was  appointed 
chief  justice  in  his  room. 

June  8th,  1693,  Col.  Smitli  was  apiHiintcd  to  tln'  cmnmand 
of  the  militia  of  Suffolk  chihIn.  in  placr  ..f  (',,1.  ,I..hn 
Youngs,  who  had  long  liehl  that  dtlicc.  i.iit  \vh(»c  age  ren- 
dered him  incompetent  any  longer  to  discharge  the  duties 
required  of  him. 

It  is  not  known  that  Col.  Smith  took  any  ]iai-t  in  politics 
under  Leisler's  administration;  but  he  wa-  one  of  tlie  court 
that  convicted  him,  and  was  on  that  account  olmoxious  to 
the  party  attached  to  Leisler. 

April  2d,  1698,  a  new  governor,  the  earl  of  Rellamont, 
arrived,  and  entered  upon  iiili<'c.  1  Ic  iiunHMliatcly  joined  the 
friends  of  Leisler.  an(l  -I'cni-  at  miht  to  ha\c  imbibed  the 
feelings  and  rescntln(■nI^  ot'  the  pai'ty,  ami  wa^  led  by  his 
zeal  to  gratify  his  friends,  whose  can-c  be  bad  c-iioii-cd,  to 
lend  his  official  patronage  to  prostrate  tla  ir  o|i|ioiu'nr>.  by 
removing  them  from  all  places  of  power  and  intlueiiee. 

The  majority  of  the  council  were  ant id>ei>lerian>  :  and 
his  first  efibrt  was  to  cbange  the  }Militic-al  complexion  of 
that  body  by  removing  such  as  were  obnoxious  to  him,  and 
introducing  Ids  favourites  in  their  room.  Wm.  Kicolls  was 
the  fir~t  victim  to  the  -pii'it  of  party;  and  the  ]ii'osei-iptiou 
was  eoMiiiMieil  till  hi-  lordship  had  suspended  moi'e  than 
half  the  mendiers  of  the  lioard. 

October  30th,  1700,  the  governor  removed  Col.  Smitli 
from  the  office  of  chief  justice,  and  appointed  Stephen  \i\n 
Cortland,  tlie  second  judge,  wlio  beloiige(l  to  the  same  party 
with  Col.  Snuth.  chief  ju-ticc  in  hi-  room. 

January  Sth,  17<'l,  his  lord>hip  int'oi'ined  the  council  that 
he  had  received  information  that  \\'illi.am  .Vtwood  wa>  a]>- 
pointed  or  about  to  be  ap])oiiite(l  to  the  otlice  of  chief  jus- 
tice of  tlie  coloiix-:  and  nioNcd  that  the  >alarv  allowed  to 
thecliicf  ju-iir,-  -iiould  he  -u-pemlcd  fi-om  the  -jrith  of  Decem- 
ber ju'ecedin--.  in  oi-dci-  that  the  >aine  might  be  reserved 
from  that  time  |oi'  the  new  chiet' ju>tice. 

The  wlioli'  circum-tance.-  of  the  ea>e.  taken  together,  au- 
thorize a  su-pi. -ion  t  hat  the  appointment  of  Atwood  in  Eng- 
land, to  the  olli,-,.  of  ,-liief  jn-ticc.  \va-  eti'ccted  by  the  in- 
trigues of  hi-  lord-hill :  that,  at  the  time  of  the  aiiiioiutnuMit 
of  \"an  Cortland  to  the  office,  he  was  well  apprized  of  the 


145 


probability  of  the  success  of  liis  efforts ;  tliat  lie  had  the 
same  liostility  to  Mr.  Yan  Cortland  as  to  Col.  Smitli ;  and 
that  he  cunningly  adopted  the  course  which  he  pursued,  as 
the  least  exceptionable,  to  get  rid  of  them  both  at  the  same 
time.  Col.  Smith's  loyal t)'' was  so  well  known  in  England, 
and  his  standing  with  the  ministry  was  probably  such,  that 
the  governor  durst  not  venture  upon  his  removal  from  the 
council. 

The  earl  Bellamout  died  March  5th,  1701.  The  lieuten- 
ant Governor,  John  Nanfan,  was  absent  at  Barbadoes  at  the 
time,  and  Col.  Smith  became  president  in  virtue  of  his  being 
the  oldest  member  ot  the  council ;  and  he  claimed  the  right 
to  exercise  the  power  of  commander-in-chief,  as  incident  to^ 
tliat  station.  This  claim  was  opposed  by  the  adherents  of 
Leisler  in  the  council,  and  denied  by  the  assembly,  a  major- 
irv  wlium  wore  of  the  same  pai'ty ;  and  Smith  states  that 
rlii-  \\  a-  anci'wards  the  opinion  of  the  lords  of  trade  (_'ol. 
Sniitli,  however,  never  exercised  any  of  the  executive  duties, 
of  the  government,  before  the  controversy  was  settled  by 
the  arrival  ot  the  lieutenant  governor,  the  19tli  of  May  en- 
suing. 

Tlie  minutes  of  the  supreme  court,  while  chief  justice 
Smith  presided,  from  October  Ith,  1693,  to_  October  5th, 
1700,  are  in  the  library  of  the  Historical  Society,  in  a  good 
state  of  preservation. 

August  Irth,  1701,  Atwood  took  the  oath  of  office  as  chief 
iustice,  and  the  next  day  was  qualified  and  took  his  seat  as 
a  member  of  the  council. 

The  court  then  consisted  of  Wm.  Atwood,  chief  justice, 
and  of  Abraham  De  Peister  and  Robert  Walters,  judges, 
and  continued  to  be  tlnis  organized  till  Lord  Cornbury's  ar- 
rival, who  entered  on  his  "administration  May  3d,  1702. 
Lord  Cornbury  espoused  the  anti-Leislerian  party ;  and  At- 
wood, who  was  accused  of  perverting  the  law  to  prostrate  a 
political  opponent,  in  the  case  of  Nicholas  Bayard  the  March 
preceding,  abandoned  his  seat  and  retired  from  the  colony. 

June  ifth,  1702,  the  governor  re-appointed  Col.  Smith  to 
the  ofiice  of  chief  justice,  which  he  held  till  April,  1703. 

April  5th,  1703,  the  governor  informed  the  council  that 
he  had  received  a  letter  from  the  queen,  appointing  John 
Brid<;>'es,  LL.D.,  the  second  judge,  chief  justice  of  the  colony, 
upon%vhich  Doctor  Bridges  was  qualified,  and  entered  upon 
the  office.  Doctor  Bridges  held  the  office  till  July,  1704, 
when  he  died. 


146 


July  15tii,  1704,  Lord  Cornburv  appointed  Roger  Mom- 
]iessor,  c'liiet"  justice,  who  was  qualitied,  and  entered  upon 
the  otiiee  ;  and  on  the  r)th  of  Fel)ruarv,  1705,  was  appointed 
amember  of  tlic  council,  and  was  qualified  and  took  liisseat 
at  the  board. 

Smith  continued  a  nicnihcr  of  the  council  till  liis 
death,  lie  attended  his  duty  in  the  hoard  .May  11th,  1704. 
lie  died  at  his  seat  at  St.  (icoi'o-e's  manor,  in  Ijrookhaven, 
February  18th,  1705,  in  the  51st  year  of  his  age. 

During  the  time  Col.  Smith  held  the  oftiee  of  chief  jus- 
tice, the  colony  was  divided  into  rancorous  jiartics.  and  the 
public  measures  were  iiitlu(  iii-e<l  \>\  pai'ty  ^]iirit  :  but  he 
seems  to  have  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office  with  dig- 
nity and  impartiality. 

Col.  Smith  was  married  at  Tangiers,  Xovember  6th,  1675, 
to  Martha,  the  daughtei-  of  Henry  Tunstall,  esq.,  of  Putney, 
in  the  county  of  Sui'rv,  in  England,  by  wdiom  he  had  six 
sons  and  seven  daughters. 

Mrs.  Smith  is  said  to  have  been  a  well  breddady,  and  emi- 
nently skilled  in  domestic  economy.  She  survived  her  hus- 
I)and,'  and  died  September  1st,  1709. 

Several  of  Col.  Snutli's  descendants  have  been  distin- 
U'uislied  bv  |inblie  stations. 

Ileiii'\-  Siiiitli.  hi-  eldest  son,  was  clerk  of  tlie  county  iVom 
171<»  to  171»;.  and  \'nv  many  years  one  of  the  jud-i-  u\'  the 
court  of  coiiiiiKin  pleas  of  Sutiblk  county,  ami  a  delei^ate  of 
the  prerogati\'e  cMiii-t  fm-  taking  tlu'  [ii-iMif  ol'  Mi'it-  and 
granting  letters  testanientai'v  and  letter^  of  admiin>tration 
for  that  county. 

Col.  William  Smith,  the  son  of  Henry,  and  grandson  of 
the  judge,  was  clerk  of  the  same  county  from  1730  to  1750, 
and  was  a  judge  of  the  county  for  several  years  before  tlie 
revolution. 

The  llev.  Caleb  Smith,  a  son  of  the  judge's  son  TTilliam. 
and  grandson  of  the  Judge,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
1743,  became  a  minister,  and  settle'!  at  Orange,  a  \illage 
about  four  miles  from  Newark,  in  New -.Ici -i  \ .  lie  |i!iaeh- 
ed  the  funeral  sermon  of  President  llurr.  in  I7.i7:  anil  is 
said,  by  an  intelligent  correspondent,  to  haxe  ]«tu  ■■  une  of 
the  greatest  men  of  his  day,  eminent  tor  hi-  I'iety,  learning 
and  abilities." 

William,  son  of  the  judge's  son  William,  anotlier  grand- 
son of  Col.  Smith,  was  a  member  of  the  provincial  congress 
or  convention  fi'oin  that  county,  in  1770;  and  on  the  organ- 


147 


ization  of  the  state  constitution,  in  April  1777,  he  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  senators  for  tlie  southern  district,  which 
seat  lie  occupied  till  the  end  of  the  war. 

His  son,  the  late  General  John  Smith,  the  great-grandson 
of  Col.  Smith,  was  a  member  of  the  convention  of  this  state 
that  adopted  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  was  a 
member  of  the  as-rmbly  fnim  Suffolk  county  a  number  of 
years,  then  a  member  of  tlie  house  of  representatives,  from 
which  station  he  was  elected  by  the  legislature  of  the  state 
of  ]S"ew-York  to  a  seat  in  the  senate  of  the  United  States  ; 
and  during  the  late  war  was  appointed  by  the  president  and 
senate  i>f  the  Uidted  States  marshal  of  the  district  of  JSTew- 
York.  which  othee  he  hehl  at  tlie  time  of  his  death. 

Coh  Siiiitirs  estate  eliietlv  remains  in  the  family.  The 
best  part  nf  St.  GeorgeV  maimr  is  now  lield  in  separate 
portions  by  William  Smith,  William  Sidney  Smith,  and 
Thomas  S.  Strong,  three  of  his  great-grandsons. 

Sletch  of  William  Mcolls,  Esq, 

William  Nicolls  was  the  son  of  Matthias  Isicolls,  who 
was  descended  from  an  ancient  and  honourable  family  at 
Tslip  in  Northamptonshire  in  England,  and  came  over  with 
( 'dl.  Richard  JSTicolls,  who  commanded  the  expedition  whicli 
\\a>  ^(  lit  to  reduce  the  Dutch  in  New- York  in  1664,  and 
who  was  the  governor  of  the  colony  under  the  Duke  of 
York,  until  1667. 

Matthias  Nicolls  was  a  relation  of  the  governor,  and  was 
by  him  appointed  secretary  of  the  colony  and  member  of 
the  council. 

He  was  also  authorized,  by  virtue  of  his  ofhce,  to  sit  with 
tlie  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  courts  of  sessions  in  the 
several  ridings  that  were  then  organized.  In  1672,  he  was 
mayor  of  the  city  of  New- York  After  tlie  act  of  1683, 
remodelling  the  courts  of  justice,  he  was  appointed  one  of 
the  jiidges  of  the  colony.  He  otliciated  in  his  judicial  capa- 
city in  Queens  county,  September  12th,  1687. 

It  is  supposed  that  he  died  about  the  year  1690. 

Matthias  Nicolls  made  sevei  al  pui-cliases  of  valuable  lands 
at  Little  Neck  and  Cow  Neck,  in  (Queens county.  In  1687, 
he  conveyed  his  lands  at  Little  Neck  to  his  son  William, 
and  those  at  Cow  Neck  were  devised  to  him  or  descended 
to  him.  In  1719,  William  Nicolls  conveyed  his  lands  at 
Cow  Neck  to  Joseph  Latham,  with  a  reservation  of  sixty 
43 


148 


feet  scjnare,  wliere  lie  states  "  liis  father,  Matthias  Xieolls, 
lies  l)uned." 

It  is  supposed  that  "William  Nicolls  was  born  in  England, 
and  came  over  a  lad  with  his  father  in  1664.  He  received 
a  legal  education,  and  became  a  lawyer  of  good  standing  at 
the  bar  in  Xevv-York.  He  was  clerk  of  Queens  county  in 
16S3,  and  held  the  office  till  1688. 

In  168-1  he  made  a  pnrcliasc  of  lands  at  Islip,  in  Suffolk 
county.  After  this  period,  lu-  in;i(h'  several  }>urcli;i>es  of 
large  tracts  of  land,  adjoining  liis  iirst  pureliuse,  the  wliole 
of  which  were  confirmed  in  161)7  by  a  patent  of  C'i>l. 
Fletcher,  who  was  distinguished  for  his  extravagant  grants 
of  tlie  public  lands. 

In  170-t,  Mr.  Nicolls  became  the  pro]irietor  of  a  tract  of 
land  on  Shelter-Island,  by  virtue  of  a  devise  in  tlie  will  of 
(tIIcs  Sylvester,  comprehending  a  large  proportion  of  that 
Island. " 

Mr.  Xieolls  was  a  warm  friend  of  liberty,  and  friendly  to 
the  I'evohitioii  in  fa\-onr  of  William  and  Mary,  bnt  was  op- 
])0se(l  to  the  arliitrai-y  and  inipolitie  iiieasni'es  wliieli  were 
adopted  by  [>ei>l('i\  rather  it  would  seem  to  secure  his  au- 
tliority  than  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  revolution. 

In  eonse(pienee  of  his  disapprobation  of  the  course  pur- 
sued by  Leisler,  he  imprisoned  him  and  others  M'ho  had 
courage  and  lionesty  enough  to  avow  their  sentiments  rela- 
tive to  puMie  affairs. 

In  .March,  it',',*].  ( rovernor  Slaughter  arrived,  called  Leis- 
ler to  account,  liberated  Xieolls  and  other  state  prisoners, 
and  settled  the  foundations  of  the  future  government  of  the 
colony. 

March  2?)d.  the  governor  appointed  Mr.  Xieolls  a  member 
of  the  eoniieil. 

In  1005,  Mr.  Xieolls  was  sent  to  England  by  the  assem- 
bly, as  the  agent  of  the  colony,  in  order  to  solicit  the  inter- 
ference of  the  crown  to  enforce  the  contributions  whicli  had 
been  allotted  to  the  other  colonies  for  the  defence  of  the 
country  against  the  encroachments  of  the  French,  which 
fell  A\  itli  uneipnd  weight  upon  the  colony  of  Xew-York  ; 
and  for  which  tliey  allowed  liini  tl.niM). 

In  lt;',^^.  he  was  sn^pen(led  from  the  council  by  the  new 
governor,  the  earl  of  Ijellainont.  who  on  lii>  first  arrival 
seems  to  have  embraced  the  views  and  adopted  the  feelings 
of  the  Leislerian  party,  and  exerted  his  official  influence  to 
crush  their  opponents. 


149 


In  1701,  Mr.  Nicolls  was  elected  a  member  of  assembly 
for  the  county  of  Suffolk ;  but  not  being  at  the  time  a  resi- 
dent of  the  county,  as  was  required  by  law,  he  was  not  suf- 
fered to  hold  his  seat. 

To  avoid  a  similar  result,  it  is  supposed  that  he  then  fixed 
his  residence  permanently  on  Great  Neck,  in  Islip,  which 
afterwards  became  the  principal  seat  of  the  family. 

In  1702,  he  was  again  elected  a  member  of  assembly  for 
Suffolk,  and  was  by  the  house  elected  to  the  speaker's 
chair. 

He  was  from  that  time  regularly  elected  a  member  of 
every  succeeding  assembly  till  his  death,  and  by  every  as- 
sembly was  elected  their  speaker.  In  1718,  he  resigned 
the  speaker's  chair  on  account  of  his  health,  which  seems 
Avholly  to  have  prevented  his  attendance  a  few  of  the  last 
years  of  his  life. 

He  was  a  member  of  assembly  twenty-one  years  in  suc- 
cession, and  speaker  sixteen  years  of  the  time. 

Mr.  Nicolls  was  a  lawyer  of  considerable  distinction. 

March  30tli,  1691,  Mr.  ISTicolls,  with  James  Emmet  and 
George  Farrawell,  were  appointed  king's  council,  to  conduct 
the  prosecution  against  Leisler  and  his  associates. 

He  was  one  of  the  council  employed  by  Nicholas  Bayard 
in  March,  1702,  in  his  defence  against  a  political  prosecution 
instituted  by  John  Nanfan,  the  lieutenant  governor,  and 
pursued  with  all  the  violence  and  bitterness  of  party  ran- 
cour, for  circulating  and  signing  petitions  to  the  king  and 
parliament,  in  which  the  abuses  of  power  by  his  honour 
and  his  friends  were  enumerated :  a  report  of  which  case  is 
published  in  the  state  trials  of  that  year. 

Mr.  Nicolls  was  also  one  of  the  council  employed  in  the 
defence  of  Francis  McKemie,  a  presbyterian  clergyman,  in 
June,  1707,  who  was  indicted  for  preaching,  which  was 
brought  about  by  the  bigotry  of  the  governor,  Lord  Corn- 
bury  :  a  narrative  of  which  is  contained  in  a  pamphlet  pub- 
lished in  New- York  in  1755. 

Mr.  Nicolls  was  twice  married.  One  of  his  wives  was 
Anna  Yan  Rensselaer,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Yan  Rensse- 
laer, esq.,  and  widow  of  Killian  Yan  Rensselaer,  who  was 
the  heir  of  the  original  proprietor  of  the  manor  of  Rensse- 
laerwick. 

Mr.  Nicolls  served  in  the  assembly  at  a  period  when  tlie 
colony  was  divided  into  bitter  parties,  and  when  a  variety 
of  interesting  questions  occurred  between  the  governors 


150 


and  asscinldy.  mIiicIi  !iffect(Ml  tlio  vii^lits  and  independence 
of  tlic  a-i'iii'lil  v.  On  all  tlicsc  ( ] iK-l  ions,  Mr.  Nieoliri  was  on 
the  side  i-f  the  assendjlv.  llo  apiicar.-  to  have  been  unifonn- 
ly  friendly  to  the  principles  of  freedom;  and  botli  in  liis  pro- 
fessional and  political  employments  seems  to  have  been  a 
tirm  and  decided  friend  to  the  rights  of  the  people  and  the 
best  interests  of  the  colony. 

Mr.  Kicolls  died  in  172:3  or  '24.  He  left  a  nnmber  of 
children  ;  and  several  of  his  descendants  have  been  distin- 
guished by  public  stations.  His  eldest  son,  Benjamin, 
settled  at  tslip,  and  married  Clmi'ity.  ;i  dniiLililcr  nf  Richard 
Floyd,  esqnire,'^'  by  whom  lie  liml  -en-.  William  and 
Benjamin.  He  died  yonng.  I  iii-wiilnw  iiKiri  icd  tlic  Kev. 
Doctor  Johnson,  (if  St  i^t  f. ird,  w  lm  w  ;irici'\v;ti'iU  proidcnt 
of  the  college  at  New  -^di-k.  iimlci-  w  Im-i'  caiT  her  t\\ n  >niis 
received  a  liberal  education  :  ami  tliry  altri'ward-  ImiIIi  re- 
ceived a  legal  education.  A\'illiaiii  iiihfi'iliMl  the  otatc  of 
his  father,  and  remained  at  l-li]!;  1 '.en jamin -cTt Ird  in  New- 
York,  and  acquired  a  di~t inuui-licd  rank  at  tiic  liar. 

William  Nicolls  the  second,  the  r-cc,,nd  hhi  of  Mr.  Nicolls, 
to  whom  he  devised  his  estatr  on  Sludtci'-I-land.  \\a>  ('(lu- 
cated  a  lawyer,  and  was  a  man  ot'  talent-,  lie  \\a>  a  mem- 
ber of  assembly  for  the  county  of  Sntiolk  lor  twenty-nine 
years  in  succession,  and  during  the  last  nine  years  was 
speaker  of  the  house.  He  was  first  elected  in  17:39,  and 
was  re-elected  a  member  of  every  succeeding  assembly  till 
his  death. 

It  is  supposed  that  he  die<l  in  the  sjiring  of  17<)S.  The 
governor,  Sii-  Ilein'v  Mooi-c.  ,li-,.Ml\(  (l  tlic  ;i~-end>ly  Febru- 
ary 6th,  17<1-^;  ami  it  i>  a  Iraditioji  that  lie  \\a-  taken  sick 
on  his  journey  home,  and  died  at  a  house  on  Hempstead 
plains. 

The  second  William  Nicolls  rescMnbled  Ids  iathoi'  in  his 
political  sentiments,  and  was  a  deeide(l  iVii'ml  to  the  I'i-hts 
of  the  colonies.  He  is  suppo.-ed  to  lia\e  conciiri'ed  in  the 
addresses  to  the  king,  lords,  and  commons,  respectively, 
which  w^ere  adopted  by  the  assembly  in  1764  and  1705,  aiicl 
wdiich  he  signed  as  their  speaker. 

*  Richard  Floyd,  esquire,  was  for  several  years  one  of  the  judges  of  the  county  of  Suffolk. 
He  was  the  grandfather  of  tli.^  lair-  C.-ncrnl  A\  illKiin  Klny.l,  who  was  a  clflesjate"  tn  tlic  first 

Congress,  and  was  contiii"!'!  r  iini'ii    ii,.        ii,i  i .  1 1 1  df  i  iir  war,  and  \va>  .'ii  tlir  .,anie 

time  entitled  to  a  seat  in  i' 

His  biography  in  the  I  i  li  !    ,  ,  !.a^it 

improper  to  extend  this  la  ,  n  ,  ai.;   i,.       ,m  i ,  i  lana -i  uni- 

form, upright,  and  deciilial.  ■  a  .  ar  1  I  v  ..h.laaa.ri  laiUaHv.  alal  lijat  lit  ca  n  1 1 li nr ,1  t ci i ](. V  the 
gratitude,  confidence,  and  <-stueui,  of  his  tellow-citizeua  till  liis  death.  He  died  August  4th 
l&21,aged87. 


151 


These  addresses  abound  with  patriotic  sentiments.  In 
that  of  1764,  they  say  that  "  It  would  be  tlie  basest  vassal- 
age to  be  taxed  at  the  pleasure  of  a  fellow-subject."  In  that 
of  1765,  they  say  that  "  An  assumption  of  power  by  the 
British  parliament  to  tax  the  colonies,  if  acquiesced' in  or 
admitted,  woidd  make  them  mere  tenants  at  will  of  his 
inajrsryV  >iilijcct>  in  Ib'ituin." 

A\"m.  Xiculls  the  second  died  a  bachelor,  and  his  estate 
descended  to  William  Nicolls  the  third,  the  eldest  son  of 
his  brother,  Benjamin  Nicolls.  William  Nicolls  the  third 
was  apjiointed  cierk  of  the  county  of  Suffolk  in  1750,  and 
cnntiinird  t.i  liold  tliat  otfice  till  h'is  death  in  1780.  During 
till'  last  fiiur  years  of  his  life,  the  administration  of  justice 
was  suspended  b_y  the  war,  and  the  otfice  was  without 
profit. 

It  is  also  said  that  Mr.  Nicolls,  some  time  before  his  death, 
laboured  under  a  partial  paralysis,  which  disrpialified  him 
for  business.  His  last  entry  on  the  records  was  made  No- 
vember 8th,  1776. 

In  March,  1768,  William  Nicolls  the  third  was  elected  a 
member  of  assembly  for  tlie  county  of  Suft'olk,  with  Eleazor 
Miller,  to  supply  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  his 
uncle.    That  assembly  was  dissolved  January  2d,  1769. 

Mr.  Nicolls  was  agani  elected  in  March,  1769,  with  Col. 
Nathaniel  Woodhnll,  a  member  for  Suflblk. 

This  was  tlie  last  assembly  under  the  colony  government, 
and  continued  until  it  \\a>  >u])erscded  I>y  the  provincial 
congress  or  convention,  which  met  niay  22d,  1775. 

Dni-ing  tlie  period  of  tins  assembly,  the  disputes  between 
the  mother  country  and  the  colonies  arrived  at  a  crisis. 

The  British  parliament  determined  that  their  claim  to  tax 
the  colonies  at  their  pleasure  should  be  exerted.  The  colo- 
nies exhausted  every  eft'ort  of  remonstrance  and  sup])lica- 
tion  without  etfect ;  and  no  alternative  was  left  but  submis- 
sion or  i-esistance.  Further  delay  was  useless.  The  time 
for  action  had  arrive<l  ;  and  the  question  whether  the  colo- 
ni-t-  were  to  be  the  vassals  of  the  British  parliament  or  to 
enjoy  the  rights  of  freemen,  was  to  be  decided  by  force. 
The  iii-o-|>(_'ct  of  a  conriict  so  unequal,  in  which  the  result 
was  so  douhtful,  staggered  many  who  were  friendly  to  the 
colonies.  The  occasion  required  all  the  zeal  and  energy  of 
the  most  ardent  patriotism.  Col.  Woodhnll  was  qualified 
for  the  crisis,  and  met  it  without  dismay ;  Mr.  Nicolls  was 
less  energetic  and  decisive. 

44 


152 


'Mr.  Xicolls,  on  several  iin])ort!Uit  political  (|U('>tions,  that 
might  he  deemed  tests  of  ])rinciiili',  that  wcic  ai^itated  hy 
that  assembly,  left  his  colleaj^ue  and  voted  with  the  minis- 
terialists. 

Possibly  he  had  flattered  himself  that  the  king  and  par- 
liament would  reliiKjuish  the  claim  to  tax  America,  or  would 
abandon  its  exercise;  and  that,  when  he  found  the  reverse 
to  be  the  case,  he  was  taken  by  surpi'i>e,  and  was  un|irepared 
for  the  event ;  and  that  tlie  cant  ion  and  timidity  of  ad\aiiced 
years  may  have  prompteil  liim  to  adopt  a  cour-e  he  lielicved 
adapted  to  delay,  or  to  prevent  what  he  may  have  appre- 
hended would  prove  to  be  a  fruitless  contest  with  the  over- 
whelming power  of  Britain. 

Admitting  that  he  was  decided  in  his  oiijiosition  to  the 
measures  of  parliament,  it  must  be  conceded  that  he  wanted 
the  energy  and  boldness  of  his  grandl'atlier  and  uncle,  either 
of  whom,  judging  from  the  cour-e  they  took  on  niiiK  n' occa- 
sions. iuMilving  similar  princi[ih'S,  would  liave  been  at  the 
head  of  the  opiio>it ion. 

Wni.  Nicoll>  the  third  left  two  sons,  William  and  Benja- 
min, lie  devi>ed  his  estate  at  Slielter-Blaiul  to  his  son 
Benjamin,  who  i>  now  living,  and  Ids  large  e>tate  oi'  Islip 
to  his  son  AVilliam  ;  which,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  farms 
which  the  legislature  of  the  state  of  New- York  thought 
proper  to  take  out  of  the  course  of  the  law,  by  limitations 
in  his  will,  after  ]>assing  three  descents,  continues  undimin- 
ished in  the  hands  of  the  elder  branch  of  the  fannly. 

Tlie  limitation  expired  in  the  person  of  the  late  Wm. 
Nicoll-,  of  I-lip.  deceased  ;  and,  inconsequence  of  his  dying 
inte>taii'.  the  otate  descends  to  his  three  infant  children,  a 
son  and  l\\<>  dauii-htei's,  as  tenants  in  common.  This  estate, 
on  the  ai'i-i\  al  of  tliese  children  at  age,  will  have  been  in 
guardianship,  with  the  exception  of  five  years,  for  -iO  years 
in  succession. 


SKETCH  OF  THE  SEVERAL  COURTS. 

Coiirt  of  Assise,  holden  at  New-York,  October  6th,  1G80. 

Present,  the  Right  Hon.  Sir  Edmund  Andross,  Governor. 

Matthias  Nicolls,  1 
William  Dyrc, 

F)-etlerick  rii|)son,     I  Memhers  of  the  Council. 
William  Darvall, 
Stephen  Cortland,  J 


153 


Francis  Riimbout,  Mayor  of  the  city  of  New-  York. 
William  Beekman,  ] 


Samuel  Wilson,  J 

Richard  Betts,  High  Sheriff  of  Yorhshire. 
Thomas  Topping,  1 

Isaac  Arnold,  j.  .^    77-,  73-7 

Richard  Woodhull,   \  ^'^'^ 
Jonas  Wood,  J 

Thomas  Willett,  Justice  of  the  North  Riding. 
James  Hubbard,  \ 


Elbert  Elbertsen,     >  Justices  of  the  West  Riding. 


Thomas  Delavall,  Justice  of  Esopus. 
Thomas  Spaswill,  | 

Nicholas  Browne,  >  Justices  of  Nexo-Jersei 
Joseph  Parker,  ) 

John  Gardiner,  Chief  Justice  of  NantuoTcet. 


hn  wSr^'^'''''     1  Pemaquid. 


ial  Court  of  Assize  held  at  New-  York,  June  29^/;,  1681. 

Antliony  Brockholst,  Commander  in  chief. 
Frederick  Phillipse,  ) 

William  Darvall,     \  Members  of  the  Council. 
Stephen  Cortland,  ) 

John  Yan  Brugh,  1 
Thomas  Lewis, 


Thomas  Lewis, 
Peter  Jacobs, 
Gulian  Ver  Plank. 


Jolm  Palmer, 


Peter  J  acobs, 
Samuel  Wilson, 
James  Graham, 


154 


John  Youngs,  JFujh  Sheriff  of  Yorkshire. 
Tlionias  Topping,  1 

Richard  AVoodhull,    I  J^^^,^i^,,     t], ^  East  Riding. 

Isaac  Aniokl, 

Jonas  "Wood,  J 

James  Iluhbard,  "1 

Eichard  Bctts,  [  J^^,^i,^,  ^f  the  West  Riding. 
Elbert  Llbertsen, 

Richard  Stilwill,  J 

Jolm  Fell  ^ 

Th.Hnas  Willet,         1  J^^^,^l^^^     ^/^^  7^,,^tj,  JUding. 

Ricliard(.ornwell,  | 

Thomas  llicks,  J 

Thomas  Delavall,  Justice  of  Esopus. 

Jolin  AVest,  Justice  of  Pemaquid. 
High  Sheriffs  of  Yorkshire  from  1665  to  1683. 
1665,  -----    William  Wells. 
1669,      -       -       -       -       Rcbcrt  foe. 

1672,  J"1'H  Manning. 

1675,       -       -       -       -       yvlvotcr  Salisbury. 

1676,  Thomas  AVillet. 

1679,  .  -  -  -  Richard  ]5etts. 
1681,  John  Youngs. 

Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  under  the  act  of  1683,  held  in 
Queens  County.^  1685. 


Matthias  Nicolls, 
John  Palmer, 


Judges. 


Supreme  Court  under  the  act  of  May  (jth,  1691,  held 
New- York,  October  Uh,  1693. 

William  Smith,  Chief  Justice. 
William  Piiihorne, 
Strplicn  (  'Murtland, 
Cliidk'V  IJrooke, 
John  Lawrence,  J 

Uh  October,  1700. 
William  Smith,  Chief  Justice. 


J udges. 


Stephen  Courtland, 
Abraham  De  Peyster, 


Judges. 


155 


A  list  of  the  Judges  and  Clerks  of  Kings,  Queens  and  Suf- 
folk, from  1665  to  1776,  as  far  as  they  could  he  obtained. 

FOR  KINGS. 

Court  of  Sessions,  tmder  the  Duke's  Laws  of  1665.  June 
\Uh,  1669. 
Matthias  Nicolls,  Secretary,  President. 
Cornelius  Van  Ruyven,  Counsellor. 
John  Manning,  1 
James  Iluhbard,      \  Justices. 
Richard  Betts,         )     7  Jurors. 

Under  the  act  ^1683.    Ajyril  1th,  1685. 
Elbert  Elbertson, 


Samuel  Spicer,  j-  . 

T  r^.-.L,.ii '  „     y  Just. 


James  Cortelleau, 
Ruloff  Marten, 


1 3  Gra nd  J urors.   12  Ju 


Under  the  Cornrnission  of  Andross,  of  1688.    April  2d, 
1689.    Court  of  Sessions  and  Common  Pleas. 

Stephen  Yan  Cortland,  Judge  of  Court  of  "  PleasP 

James  Cortelleau,  "1 

William  Morris,  7-    ,.        /.  ,7  r\ 

^,       1     T>    1  \  Justices  of  the  Quoruin. 

(ierardus  Ueekman,  ^ 

Nicholas  Stillwell,  J 

Under  Law  of  May  Qth,  1691,  and  under  the  Ordinance 
of  Hay  mh,  1699. 

Gerardus  Beekman,  Judge  of  Com.  Pleas  and  the  Justices. 

Judges. 

1715,  Cornelius  Sebring. 
1718,  Cornelius  Yan  Brunt. 
1720,  Peter  Stryker. 
1722,  Daniel  Polhemus. 
1724,  Peter  Cortilleau. 
1729,  Samuel  Clarretson. 
1732,  Ryck  Suydam. 
1739,  Christopher  Codwise. 
1742,  Johannes  Lott. 
1745,  Abraham  Lott. 
]  749,  Isaac  Sebring. 

1752,  Samuel  Garretson,  Barnabas  Ityder,Cliarles  DeBevois. 
1761,  Samuel  Garretson,  John  Lefferts,  Abraham  Schenck. 
45 


154 


John  Youngs,  High  Sheriff  of  YorTcshire. 
Tliomas  Topping,  ] 

Richard  Woodhull,    '  of  the  East  Riding. 

Isaac  Arnold,  j 


Thomas  Hicks,  J 
Thomas  Delavall,  Justice  of  Esopus. 
John  West,  Justice  of  Pemaquid. 

High  Sheriffs  of  YorMiire  from  1665  to  1683. 

1665,   Wilham  Wells. 

1669,       -       -       -       -  Eobert  Coe. 

1672,  -----  John  Mannino;. 

1675,      -       -       -       -  Sylvester  Salisbury. 

1676,   Thomas  Willet. 

1679,      .       -       -       -  Richard  Betts. 

1681,   John  Youngs. 

Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  under  the  act  of  1683,  held  in 
Queens  County.,  1685. 


Su2)reme  Court  under  the  act  of  May  Gth,  1691,  held  in 
New-  York,  October  Uh,  1693. 

William  Smith,  Chief  Justice. 
William  Pinhorne,  "1 


Justices  of  the  West  Riding. 


Justices  of  the  North  Riding. 


Uh  October,  1700. 
William  Smith,  Chief  Justice. 


155 

A  list  of  the  Judges  and  Glerks  of  Kings,  Queens  and  Suf- 
folk, from  1665  to  1776,  as  far  as  they  could  he  obtained. 

FOR  KINGS. 

Court  of  Sessions,  under  the  Duke's  Laios  of  1665.  June 
IQth,  1669. 
Matthias  Nicolls,  Secretary,  President. 
Cornelius  Yan  Ruyven,  Counsellor. 
John  Manning,  ) 
James  Hubbard,      >  Justices. 
Richard  Betts,         j     7  Jurors. 

Under  the  act  of  1683.    A2}rll  1th,  1685. 
Elbert  Elbertson, 


Samuel  Spicer,         I  j^i^f^^^^ 
James  Coi'telleau 
Ruloff  Marten, 


13  Grand  Jurors.    VI  Jurors. 


Under  the  Commission  of  Andross,  of  1688.    Ajyril  2d, 
1689.    Coxtrt  of  Sessions  and  Common  Pleas. 

Stephen  Yan  Cortland,  Judge  of  Court  of  "  Pleas. ''^ 
James  Cortelleau, 


Willuim  ^Nforris,        i    r  j?  ,i  r\ 

1     1.    1  Y  Justices  of  the  Quorum. 

Cxerardus  lieekman,  ^ 

JSTichulas  Stillwell,  J 

Under  Law  of  May  dth,  1691,  and  under  the  Ordinance 
of  May  15th,  1699. 

Gerardus  Beekman,  Judge  of  Com.  Pleas  and  the  Justices. 

Judges. 

1715,  Cornelius  Sebring. 
1718,  Cornelius  Yan  Brunt. 
1720,  Peter  Stryker. 
1722,  Daniel  Polhemus. 
1724,  Peter  Cortilleau. 
1729,  Samuel  Garretson. 
1732,  Ryck  Snjdam. 
1739,  Christopher  Codwise. 
1712,  Johannes  Lett. 
1715,  Abraham  Lott. 
]71:9,  Isaac  Sebring. 

1752,  Samuel  Garretson,  Barnabas  R_vder,Cliarle5  DeBevois. 
1761,  Samuel  Garretson,  John  Lefterts,  Abraham  Schenck. 
15 


156 


1700,  Samuel  Gavretsou,  -Tolin  Lefferts,Conielius  YaiiBnint. 
1770,  .lohii  Lorterts,  Jeremiali  lieinsen,  IMiilip  Xa<i;;el. 
1777,  Eiii^elbert  Lutt,  Jeremias  A^anderbelt,  Theodorus  Pol- 
heimis. 

Clerks  of  Kings. 

From  1671  to  1G82,  John  West. 
1682  to  1684,  Peter  Smith. 
1684  to  1687,  John  Kni.sht. 
1687  to  1704,  Jacobus  Vanderwater. 
1704  to  1715,  Ilenrv  Filkin. 
1715  to  1726,  J.  M.'S])erliii_u-. 
1726  to  1750,  Adrian  IIa<;-enuiii. 
1750  to  1775,  Simon  Boerum.  , 
1775  to  1777,  John  Eapelje. 

FOR  QUEENS. 

Court  of  Sessions,  under  the  Duke's  Laws,  June  St/i,  1675. 

Matthias  Is  icolls.  Secretary,  President. 
Chidlej  Brooke,  Councillor. 

Sylvester  Salisbury,  HiAjh  Sheriff,  with  the  Justices  of  the 
county. 

Under  commission  of  Andross,  of  1688,  cind  act  of  May  6. 
1691. 

J udges  of  Common  Pleas. 

From  1688  to  1699,  Thomas  Hicks. 

Under  the  Ordinance  of  1699. 

From  1699  to  1703,  John  Coe. 

17<':;  to  1710,  Thomas  Willet. 

171",  Tlitinias  AVillct  and  Jolm  Jackson. 

172:-;.  TInmiM-  Will.'t.  llirks. 

173(1.  i-aar  Ilirk^.  Davl.l  .I.,ur~.  .lohn  Tallman. 

1734,  David  Jones,  John  ]\t(  -~ciii:('r.  James  Ilazai'd. 

1738,  David  Jones,  James  Hazard.  Tlioinns  IIick>. 

1740,  James  Hazard,  Thoma^  lli.  k>.  .lolm  Willct. 
Mav,  1749,  Thomas  Hicks,  John  \<\\\vx.  Dnvi.l  Sramaii. 
Sept.  1749,  Thomas  Hicks,  David  Sr.nimn.  J,,.,.|,li  S:„  k,'tT. 

1756,  Thonias  Hicks,  Jacol,  Smiil,.  I'mi,  'rnwiiMMid. 

1757,  Thomas  Hicks,yal.  II.  P.  tn-.  1', mi  TuwiiMMid. 
From  1771  to  1774,  Thomas  Hick?-,  \  alentinc  11.  i'eters, 

Daniel  Kissani. 


157 


Clerks  of  Queens, 

From  1683  to  1688,  William  Nicolls. 
1688  to  1702,  Andrew  Gibb. 
1702  to  1710,  Samuel  Clows. 
1710  to  1722,  Joseph  Smith. 
1722  to  1757,  Andrew  Clark. 
1757  to  1770,  Whitehead  Hicks. 

FOE  SUFFOLK. 

CouH  of  Sessions,  under  the  Duke^s  Laws,  March  '6th,  16 
Matthias  J^icolls,  Secretary,  President. 
Thomas  Willet,  Councillor. 
Thomas  Baker,  ] 
John  Topping,         ^  j^^.^^^^ 
Isaac  Arnohl, 
Eichard  Woodhnll,  J 

Court  of  Common  Ph'nx,  muli  r  the  Act  of  2Tay  6th.  lt> 
L^s///,  1693. 

Isaac  Arm  lid,  .///,/(/,,  ir/'f/t  the  Justices. 
TJialrr  tlu:  Ordimince  of  1699. 
Judges  of  the  Common  Pleas. 

1723,  Henry  Smith,  Benjamin  Yoniiu.--,  Biicluu-d  Floyd. 
1729,  Henry  Smith,  Benjamin  Yoim--.  Sainuol  irutciiiii> 
1738,  Henry  Smith,  Joshua  Youiiu>,  Thomas  Cliattield. 
1741:,  Daniel  Smith,  Josliua  Yonnu-s,  Thomas  Chatfield. 
1752,  Eichard  Floyd,  Elijah  Hutchinson,  Hugh  Gelston. 
1764,  Eichard  Floyd,  Samuel  Landon,  Hngh  Gelston. 
1771,  William  Smith,  Samuel  Landon,  Hugh  Gelston. 
1773,  William  Smith,  Samuel  Landon,  Isaac  Post. 
March  28th,  1775,William  Smith,  Samuel  Landon,  Isaac  Po 

CUrls  of  Suffolk. 

From  1669  to  1681,  Henry  Pierson. 
1681  to  1692,  John 'Howell. 
1692  to  1709,  Thomas  Helme. 
1709  to  1716,  Henry  Smith. 
1716  to  1722,  C.  Couixreve. 
1722  to  1730,  Samueriludson. 
1730  to  1750,  William  Smith. 
1750  to  1776,  William  Js^icolls. 


158 


Meinhci'fi  of  Aftxemhlij  from  Lmuj-Tdand^  <hinng  the  colony 
Adniinidi'iition.,  from  1G91  to  1775. 

FOR 

Nicholas  Stilhvcll.  - 
Joliu  Poland,  - 
Coert  Stuyvesant, 
Joliaiinis  Van  Eckleii, 
lleiirv  Filkiii, 
Cornelius  Sebriii";',  - 
Myeiulert  Coerteii, 
Gerardiis  Bcckiiian, 
Cornelius  Scbrinj;-, 
Cornelius  A"an  IJriuit, 
Sainiu'l  (Tiu-retsen, 
Kifliartl  8tilhvell,  - 
Johannes  Lot, 
Abraham  Lot, 
Domiiilcu^  Vanderveer, 


Abr; 
Sinn 


1  I'MMTin 
J  A  La''/' 


S  COI  NTY. 

iVolu  Hil'l  to  l<;(t3,  2  1 
<1()  t.)  do  2  " 
"  H;93tol694:,  1 
"  1(!93  to  1698,  5 
"  1094-  to  1695,  1 
•'  1695  to  1698,  3 
"  1698  to  1699,  1 
"  1698  to  l<;;t9,  1 
"  1()99  to  17i^<i.  27 
"  l(;9i>  to  171<;,  17 
-  1716  to  17;;7, 21 
"  1726  to  1727,  1 
"  1727  to  1761,  3J: 
"  1737  to  1750,  13 
"  1750  to  1759,  9 
ick,  -     ■  -  "    1759  to  1767.  8 

1761  to  1775,  14 
"    1767  to  1775,  7 
t  the  Council,  Cornelius  Yan  Ruyveu. 


Daniel  Whitehead, 
John  Robinson, 
John  Jackson, 
Jonathan  Whitehead, 
John  Tallnian,  - 
John  Townsend, 
John  Jackson,     .       .  . 
Thomas  Willet, 
Isaac  Ilicks, 
Benjamin  Ilicks, 
David  Jones,  (8])eaker  13 years) 
Thomas  Cornell, 
Thomas  Hicks,  - 


FOR   (iUKKNS  COUNTY. 

-    from  16)91  to  1705, 
"    lr.91  to  1693, 


14  years 


1693  to  1709,  16 


17(»5  to  1709,  4 
17oit  to  1710,  1 

1709  to  1710,  1 

1710  to  1716,  6 
1710  to  1726,  16 
1716  to  1739.  23 
I72i;  to  i7;;7.  il 

1737  to  1759.  22 
1739  to  1759.  20 
1759  to  1761',  2 


semljl 
was  s| 
wliolf 
(  re 


discliarged  the  duties  of 


159 


Thomas  Cornell,  -       -       -    from  1761  to  1764,   3  years. 
Zebuloii  Seaman,     -       -         "    1759  to  1775,  16 
Daniel  Kissam,   -       -       -      "    1764  to  1775,  11 

Member  of  Counc'd. 
Thomas  Willet,  -       -       -    from  1677  to  1692. 

FOR  SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 

Col.  Henrv  Pierson,  from  1691  to  1695,   4  years — speaker 

Mathew  Howell,  "  1691  to  1693,   2  "  [1  year. 

John  Tuthill,  "  1693  to  1694,  1 

Mathew  Howell,  "  1694  to  1705,  11 

John  Tnthill,  "  1695  to  1698,  3 

Heni'v  Pierson,  "  1698  to  1701,  3 

AViUiam  Xicolls,  "  1702  to  1723,  21       Speaker  16 

Samuel  Mulford,  "  1705  to  1726,  21  [years. 

Epenetns  Piatt,  "  1723  to  1739,  16 

Samuel  Hutchinson,  "■  1726  to  1737,  11 

David  Pierson,  "  1737  t..  174s.  11 

VAv.v/.vv  :\[iller,  "  174^  t..  17(;.s,  20 

William  Xicolls  2d,  "  1739  to  17(is,  29         Speaker  9 

KlcazcT  :\[i]ler,  "  1768  to  1769,    1  [years. 

AVilliam  Xicolls  3d,  "  1768  to  1769,  1 

Xathaniel  Woodhull,  1769  to  1775,  6 

William  Xicolls  3d,  "  1769  to  1775,  6 

Memhers  of  the  Council. 
Col.  John  Yonngs,    from  1683  to  1698, 
Col.  William  Smith,      "    1691  to  1704, 
William  Xicolls  "    1691  to  1698. 


thr  rrurn.f,!  Cn,„ir.ss-;„  //.,  S.',,!.  ,n..l  A.s.s,,J>h/  uf 
the  Sf,if,  ofy.  ,r-ynrl\  ^nnl        tin    Cntnu.ntal  CvmJi'tSS, 

dur'uKj  the  Iteoolutloiui nj  W'.ir. 

The  deputies  for  Loii^-I>laiid  to  the  convention  which 
met  at  the  city  of  Xew-York  A]ii'il  l<tth.  1775,  to  choose 
dulfu-atcs  tu  tlie  Continental  Conii-n'ss,  wlto  as  follows: 

.V,7//;-//'.— William  Fluyd.  X^itiiaiiicl  W.H,dhull,  Phineas 
Fannim:;.  Tlu.ma>  TnMlwtdl.  and  .Idlm  S|,k^  llobart. 

^^>,„,;,,,._.Tacub  l!lackw.dl  and  -lolni  Tallman. 

K'nnix. — SiuiDU  P)oerum,  Kidiai-d  Stilwell,  Theodoras Pol- 
hemus.  Dcium'  Denise,  and  John  \'aiiderbelt. 

Soon  after  the  convention  was  dissolved,  on  a  recommend- 
ation from  Xew-Tork,  the  several  counties  appointed  dele- 
46 


160 


gates  to  meet  and  form  a  Provincial  Congress  to  co-(>i)erate 
Tvitli  the  Continental  Congress  in  such  measures  as  they 
sho\dd  devise  for  the  public  good.  ^ 

These  delegates  met  at  Kew-York,  May  22d,  17  lo,  and 
continued  with  some  new  appointments  to  meet  from  tune 
to  time  at  different  ]daces,  till  the  adoj^tion  of  the  State 
Constitution  in  April  1777. 

During  this  period,  or  the  greater  i»art  ot  it,  the  colony 
government  was  dissolved ;  the  whole  powers  of  sovereign- 
ty devolved  on  the  peojde,  and  were  exercised  by  their  re- 
presentatives in  the  Pro\  incial  Congros. 

The  Provincial  Congiv~~.  l.\  Niitnc  nf  tli.'ir  rei)resenta- 
tive  capacity  merely,  withuut  any  (•.Hi>t_it ut ion,  guide  or 
control,  but  their  own  views  of  the  public  interests,  perform- 
ed all  the  duties  and  exercised  the  powers  of  a  regularly 
constituted  legislature. 

The  ineiiilier.-.  of  the  Provincial  Congress  for  Long-Island 

were  a>  fMllu\v> : 

,V„//;,/Z  — Nathaniel Woodhull.. bill, I  Si, 1  lol.a.-t.  1  ]i..uias 
Trecfwell.  .biliii  Foster,  Ezra  i/lI-Huinedieii,  TIh.mki,.  Wiek- 
Lani.  .lame^  Havens.  Selah  Strong,  William  Smith.  David 
Gelsl-n.  Mr.  Derin-  ^  ,   -r  i 

„s^.]-Auiv>  i'.lackwell,  Samuel  Townsend,  Jonathan 
Lawrence,  Joseph  Robinson,  .lames  Townsend,  AV alter 
Smith,  Mr.  A'anWvck,  Abraham  Kettletas. 

h'nn/s-  Uenrv  Williams,  Jeremiah  liemsen,  Mr.  J  ollie- 
mu~.  Vir.  I.etr.TtV.  ,     T  1  , 

Alter  till'  ;'.titli  ,.f  Anirust,  1776,  when  the  Island  was 
abamh'niMl  !,\  tli,'  Ameriean  army,  such  of  the  members 
onlv  attended  a~  lia,l  left  the  Island. 

Bv  an  oi-dinaiiee  pa-ed  bv  the  eonveiiti<m  who  ti'amed 
theitatec.mMiluti,.!!.  April  L'ntli.  1  777.  it  wa>  provide,!  that 
that  i>art  <<\'  tli,'  -late  which  had  fallen  int,.  tl'e  liaml-  the 
enemx  -h,.iil,l  !»■  iv| nvsented  in  the  >eiiate  and  a-M>nil)ly  by 
a  pnip,'rii,inal  minil.er  of  member-  M'l,M-te,l  tV,nii  Tlh.se  who 
had  retired  tr,.m  iImim'  e,mnties  xvitliin  the  American  lines. 

The  foll,>\\in-  p,M-,,n~  N\,  iv-ele,-te,|  jur  thi-  purp.,-,.  In.m 
the  several  counties  on  L,mg-l>lan(l,  and  held  their  >c'ats  t ill 
the  end  of  the  war : 

,'^r/>ator.s—\\ iW'iam  Floyd,  William  Smith,  Jonathan  Law- 

^^^A%e))Mi/inen  for  Snfolk—Bnrnet  Miller,  David  Gelston. 
Ezra  L'lionnnedieii.  Thomas  Tredwell,  Thomas  AVickes. 

For  Quren.s^\'\M\>  Ivlsell,  Daniel  Lawrence,  Benjamin 
Coe,  and  Benjamin  Biid>ull. 


161 


For  Kln<i>^ — William  Boornin  and  TTonrv  Williams. 

The  lueiiibei's  uf  ("(inu'i't'>>  from  Ldii^-Islaml  during  some 
period  (if  the  war  were  William  Floyd,  Simon  Boeriim, 
Ezra  L'llouimedieu. 


Kings, 
Queens, 
Suffolk, 


Population  of  Long-Idmul  of  diifc rent  periods. 

IMiii  1810  1820 

:.74o  8303  11187 
Ki'.ts;;  19336  20519 
I'.tlll  21113  21272 


1731       im         1786  n'.iii 

2150    3623    3986  44'.»:. 

7895  10980  13084  ICdU 

7675  13128  13793  lt;44(» 


Total— 17820  27731  30863  36919  12167  18752  5506? 


Population  of  the  several  town-^ 


KINGS  COUNTY. 

Brooklyn,  - 
Bnshwick, 
Flatlnish,  - 
Flatlands, 
Gravesend,  • 
New-Utreclit, 


QUEENS  COUNTY. 

Newtown, 
Jamaica,  - 
Flushino-,  - 
North-IIempstead, 
Hempstead, 
Oysterbay, 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 

East  Ha,m])ton,  - 
South  llanijiton, 
Shelti-r  l>land,  ■ 
Brook  Haven,  - 
Islip,  -       -  . 
Huntington,  - 
Smitlitown, 
Riverhead, 
Soutliold,  - 


1810 

4102 
798 

1159 
517 
520 
907 

8303 

1810 

2437 
2110 
2230 
2750 
5084 
4725 

19336 

1810 

1480 
3899 

329 
4176 

885 
4425 
1592 
1711 
2613 


7175 
930 

1027 
512 
534 

1009 

11187 

1820* 


20519 

1820 

1646 
4229 
389 
5218 
1156 
4935 
1874 
1857 
2968 


21113  21272 

*  The  Deputy  who  took  the  last  census,  omitted  to  distinguish  the  population  of  the  several 
towns  in  Queens  County. 


1G2 


Proportion  of  white  Males  to  Females. 

MALES.  FEMALES. 

Killers  5096  4514 

Queens,     -       -       -       -       9643  9040 

Suffolk,        -       -       -       -  11761  11250 

26500     24804,  as  13  to  12 
Emploxjment  of  Males  over  16  years  of  age. 

Agriculture.  Commerce.  Manufactures. 

Kino-s,  -----  840  81  713 
Queens,  -  -  -  -  4130  102  1119 
Suffolk,   4642       342  1099 

9612       525  2931 
Total  males  over  16,      -       -       -       -       -       -  141S0 

Employed  in  agriculture,  commerce  and  manufactures.  1306S 

Unemployed,         -       -  111- 

Proportion  of  Population  of  Long-Island  to  the  c'dtj  of 
New-  York. 

Long-Island.  City. 

1731       .       -       -       -    17820  8628,  as  2  to  1 

177ll  -       -       -       .       27731  21163, 

1786;      -       -       -       -    30863  23614, 

1790,  -       -       -       -       36949  33131, 

1800,      -       -       -       -    42167  60489, 

1810,  -       -       -       -       48752  96373,  as  1  to  2 

1820,      -       -       -       -    56978  1230()(»,  as  1  to  2! 
Proportion  of  Population  of  Long- Island  to  the  State  of 
New-  York. 

Long-Island.  State. 

1731,      .       -       -       -    17820  :.tiL".t1.  a:.  1  to  3 

1771,  -       -       -       -       27731  1<;;;:;:;^.      I  to  6 

1786,      -       -       -       -    30863  2:^Mtt;.  a>  1  to  7 

1790,  -       -       -       -       36949  34U120,  as  1  to  9 

1800,      -       -       -       -    42167  586141,  as  1  to  14 

1810,  -       -       -       -       48752  959049,  as  1  to  19 

1820,     -       -       -       -    66978  1372812,  as  1  to  24 
Proportion  of  Population  of  the  State  of  New-York  to  the 
United  States. 

New-York.      United  States. 

1790,  -       -       -       -    340120  3950000,  as  1  to  11 

1800,        -       -       -       686050  5305666,  as  1  to  9 

1810,  -       -       -       -    959049  7230514,  as  1  to  7 

1820,        -       -       -     1372812  9654415,  as  1  to  7 


163 


Valuation  of  the  several  towns  in  the  cmmties  of  King 
Qtceens  and  Suffolk,  in  1823. 

KIN'GS.  Brooklyn,    ...       -  $2389899 

Flatbush,  -       -       -       -  422523 

Flatlands,    ...       -  196704 

Biishwick,       -       .       -  257378 

New-Utrecht,      -       -       -  304954 

Gravesencl,      -       -       -  196047 


QUEENS- 


SUFFOLK. 


-OYster'ba}^  - 
Hempstead, 
Nortli-IIempstead, 
Flusliing,  - 
Newtown,  - 
Jamaica,  - 


-East-Hampton, 
South  Hampton, 
Shelter-Island, 
South  Old,  - 
River  Head,  - 
Brook  Haven,  - 
Smith  Town,  - 
Huntington, 
Islip, 


$3705675 
$1575550 
1017000 
1165250 
993200 
890780 
698800 

$6340580 
$464000 
■  960305 
105640 
534920 
267380 
969500 
320078 
8114*0 
279349 


Proportion  of  the  va.hi<ifi 

to  ///' 


$4712712 
if  Kings,  Queens  and  Suffolk 


Kings,  - 
Queens. 
Sultblk,' 


V./A,  1821. 
>35131t;4 
5876775 

4889464  whole  state. 


$14279413  $241283532,  as  1  to  16 

NOTB.—  By  the  state  census  of  1825,  the  population  of  the  state  is  1,616,453 ;  city  of  New-York 
166,086 ;  Long-Island  5S,T05,  proportion  to  the  state  as  1  to  27. 


OF  THE  CLIIIATE  OF  LONG-ISLAND. 

The  influence  of  the  sea  winch  surrounds  it,  renders  it 
more  temperate  than  places  in  the  same  parallel  of  latitude 
in  the  interior.    In  the  summer,  it  is  regularly  fanned  by  a 
47 


164 


sea  breeze,  wliicli  nH'nerally  rises  \u  the  afternoon,  l)ut  some- 
times before;  and  extends  more  or  less  aeross  tlie  Isliiiid. 
aeeordini;'  to  tlie  stren^-th  and  continuance  of  tlie  wind. 
These  breezes  have  become  so  common  in  tlie  winter,  as  to 
prevent  the  snow  from  covering  the  ground  for  any  consid- 
erable length  of  time. 

Tlie  west  and  south- west  winds  predominate  in  more  than 
half  the  months  in  the  year — the  tlieniiometer  seldom  sinks 
belowzeroiii  winter,  and  scldciii  ri-c-  higher  than  90  degrees 
in  summer.  The  nican  ti'iii|M  rat  iiic  is  about  51  degrees, 
Avliich  is  the  temperature  ol'  the  >pi-iiigs  and  deep  wells,  and 
the  weather  is  cleai-  more  than  half  the  year."" 

The  temperatui-e  at  1 1 iiiitingtoii.  which  lies  in  lat.  about 
40d.  r):ini.  midw  ay  l>e1  ween  tlie  latitude  of  the  east  and  west 
ends  of  the  l^lall(l,  w  ill  gi\c  pfetty  nearly  the  average  tem- 
perature of  the  whole  Inland. 

*  The  temporature  of  places  in  the 

the  stale  ..f  ciiliiv.itio,,,  l,v  lli.  ir  proN 

JrCeZC.  aiHl  ,  .Mil-.  -   '.I    Mir  lMi-i| 

Tlie  I.  II  ■  .y 

feet,  ol  I'M.     •  .1  .  ■  .'■ 

is  7217  I. 
places  I 


buteil  i 

The  till, 
pnvcs  I 
tein]w  I  r 

tlllllx  r 
a  Kiv.  I 

of  th.  ■ 
The  iiii 
and  tl, 
on  th- 
earth 

dcr  tir 
have  :i 
posit..  - 

The  .1 

west  w:i-  II...   11.11. 

vailed  111  the  sprint;,  and  i 
predominant  winds,  more  tlian  half  the  mom 
sea.  or  blow  over  a  country  less  cold  thiin 
winds,  and  are  more  temperate  than  those  wi 
change,  and  becoming  more  uniform  ;  the  w 
tliey  formerly  were. 


165 


The  mean  temperature  of  the  several  months  in  the  year. 


Prom  1st  Sept.  1821,  to  1st  Sept.  1S22.           From  1st  Sept.  18 

23,  to  1st  Sept.  1824. 

September, 

-    69  - 

-  62 

51 

51 

November, 

-    42  - 

-  39 

Deceml)ei', 

31 

35 

Jauuarv,  - 

-    26  - 

-  34 

February, 

29 

32 

Marcli, 

-    24  - 

-  36 

April,  - 

49 

49 

May, 

-    63  - 

-  57 

June, 

65 

69 

July, 

-    75  - 

-  74 

August, 

71 

70 

51,20 

50,40 

Greatest  heat,  and    greatest  cold,  at  Ilunt'tngton. 


1S22.  Julv  4th 
do    "  20, 
1824,  July  10, 
'  18, 
31, 

Au2.  22, 


90 


90 


Greatest  range  of  ] 
the  thermometer,  i 


1822,  Jan.  5t] 
do  14 
do  24 
do  25 
1824,  Dec.  18 
Feb.  5 
1822. 
1824, 


5  below  zero. 
4  do 
at  zero. 

2  below. 

,1  above  zero. 

3  do 
-  98 

94 


Predominant  Winds  at  Huntington. 


From  1st  Sept.  1821, 

,  to  1st  Sept,  1822. 

From  1st  Sept.  1823, 

to  1st  Sept.  1824. 

September, 

west. 

September, 

east. 

October, 

west. 

October, 

south-west. 

November, 

west. 

November, 

do. 

December, 

west. 

December, 

west. 

Jan nary. 

south-west. 

January, 

west. 

Feljruary, 

do. 

February, 

south-west. 

March, 

do. 

March, 
April, 

east. 

April. 

east. 

south-west. 

May, 

south-west. 

May, 

do. 

Jnne, 

west. 

June, 
July, 

do. 

July, 

south-west. 

west. 

August, 

do. 

August, 

south-west. 

166 


Courses  of  Winde.  Courses  of  Winds. 


North,    .       -       .    U       Nortli,    -       -  -  18 

Ts  ortli-west,  -       -       24       North-west,  -       -  GO 

North-east,     -       -    80       North-east,      -  -  36 

East,  -       -       -       48       East,    -       -       -  52 

South-east,      -       -    21       Soutli-east,      -  -  22 

South,  -       -       -       26       Soutlj,  -       -       -  25 

South-west,     -       -  102       South-west,     -  -  91 

West,  -       -       -       94       West,  -       -       -  61 

365  365 
State  of  the  loeather  for  455  days,  from  \st  Se_pt.  1821. 

Clear,  270 

Cloudy,  113 

Ramy,  51 

Snow,  21—455 


Temperatxire  of  Wells  in  ITuntington,  IMh  Atigtist,  1823, 
water  from  4     6  feet  deep. 

Depth.  Temperature  at  bottom.  Surface. 

10       ------    65  66 

10    57  58 

25       ------    53  54 

43    ------       50  51 

Boiliuo-  Springs,   -       -       -  51''^ 


An  extract  from  the  power  of  attorney,  granted  to  James 
Farret,  by  William,  Earl  of  Stirling,  April  20th,  in  the  12th 
year  of  Charles  I. 

The  power,  after  reciting  that  the  earl  had  ohtained  a  pa- 
tent from  tlic  CI ii'i >i ii'iif i( .11  I'm-  New -Kii-1:iim1,  liy  tlic  cinist'iit 
and  commaiid      ihr  lic.-iriuLi-  iImIc  A|'i'il  -I'lA.  in  the 

11th  year.^flii^  ivi-n.  -a  crrt-nn  l^l.-iinl  callcl  Lmi^- 
Island,witli  the  I-LumN  iMlinrmt.  ami  tlu.t  he  wa^  (li'Hi-Mn>  of 
improving  tliriii,  -i.ih  -tliat  lie  had  ajipcintcd  .lamo  hai'ret 
to  be  his  attunn'\  ci-  a-i  iit  to  take  possession  of  the  said 
Islands,  and  to  jilant  ami  improve  them,  and  after  some  other 
recitals,  proceo(l>  a~  tulluws: 

"I,  the  said  A\'illiam,  Earl  of  Stirling,  do  hereby  impower 
and  authorize  liiiii  for  me,  my  heirs,  executors  and  adminis- 
trators, and  for  every  of  us,  to  let,  set,  mortgage,  sell,  or  by 
any  other  way  or  means,  for  a  present,  sum  or  sums  of  money, 

*  For  the  meteorological  observations  of  the  town  of  Huntington,  I  am  indebted  to  the  kind- 
ness of  Christopher  Mcng,  esq.,  of  that  town. 


167 


or  for  yearly  rent,  to  dispose  of  the  said  Islands,  or  of  any 
part  or  parts  of  them,  for  such  time  or  times,  term  or  terms 
of  years,  for  life,  or  lives,  or  forever  in  fee,  as  my  said  attor- 
ney or  agent  shall  judge  most  probably  conducing  to  my 
profit  and  behalf,  and  to  the  other  ends  before  specified. 

And  after  one  or  more  plantations,  or  colonies  or  people 
shall  be  there  in  any  or  all  of  the  aforesaid  Islands,  settled, 
to  continue,  erect  and  establish,  such  honest  and  wholesome 
orders  and  ordinances  amongst  and  for  the  benefit  of  the 
said  planters  and  colonies,  as  shall  be  judged,  together 
with  and  upon  the  advice  of  the  Eight  Worshipful'  John 
Winthrop,  esq.,  governor  of  Boston  colony,  in  the  said 
New-England,  most  tending  to  the  preservation  of  the  pub- 
lic peace,  the  improvement  of  trade  and  commerce,  and  the 
due  execu.tion  of  justice,  in  obedience  to  the  laws  of  God. 
and  as  much  as  may  be  agreeable  to  the  laws  of  England."' 

Tlie  power  authorizes  the  conveyance  of  the  said  lands  to 
any  person  or  persons  that  owed  allegiance  to  the  crown  of 
England,  and  engages  to  ratify  and  confirm  what  his  said 
attorney  shall  do  in  conformity  with  the  said  power  in  the 
premises. 


Treaty  of  Hartford,  1650. 

Articles  of  agreement  made  and  concluded  at  Hartford, 
upon  Connecticut,  September  19,  1650,  between  delegates 
of  the  Commissioners  of  the  United  English  Colonies,  . and 
the  delegates  of  Peter  Stuyvesant,  governor  general  of  jN'ew 
Netherlands — concerning  the  bounds  and  limits  between  the 
English  United  Colonies  and  the  Dutch  province  of  JSTew 
Netherlands. 

We  agree  and  determine  as  follows  : 

That  upon  Long-Island,  a  line  run  from  the  westernmost 
part  of  Oysterbay,  and  so  in  a  straight  and  direct  line  to 
the  sea,  shall  be  the  bounds  l)etweeu  the  English  and  Dutch 
there,  the  easterly  part  to  belong  to  the  English,  and  the 
westernmost  part  to  the  Duteli. 

The  bounds  upon  the  main,  to  begin  upon  the  west  side 
of  Greenwich  bay,  being  about  fnnr  iiiilc>  fi-om  Stamford, 
and  so  to  run  a  westerly  line  20  miles  up  into  the  country, 
and  after,  as  it  shall  be  agreed  by  the  two  go\cniinents  of 
the  Dutch  and  New  Haven,  provided  that  said  liin.'  run  not 
Avithin  ten  miles  of  Hudson's  river,  and  it  is  agreed  that  the 
Dutch  shall  not,  at  any  time  hereafter,  Iniild  any  house  or 
48 


168 


liabitation  within  six  miles  of  the  said  line.  The  inhabit- 
ants of  Greenwich  to  remain  (till  further  consideration 
tliereof  be  had,)  under  the  iiovernment  of  the  Dutch. 

That  the  Dutch  sluxll  hold  and  enjoy  all  the  lands  in 
Hartford  that  they  are  actually  in  possession  of,  known  or 
set  out  by  certain  marks  and  bounds,  and  all  the  remainder 
of  the  said  lands,  on  both  sides  of  Connecticut  river,  to  be 
and  remain  to  the  English  there.  _  _ 

And  it  is  ajjreed,  that  the  aforesaid  bounds  and  Imuts, 
both  upon  the' Island  and  main,  shall  be  observed  and  kept 
inviolable,  both  by  the  English  of  the  United  Colonies  and 
all  the  Dutch  nation,  without  any  encroachment  or  molesta- 
tion, until  a  full  determination  ho  !io-rc(Ml  upon  in  Europe 
bv  mutual  consent  of  the  tw..  St;ili-  nf  I-.n-land  and  Hol- 
land. And  in  testimony  of  oin-  jnim  cniiM  iit  to  the  several 
foregoing  conditions,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  thi> 
19tli  day  of  September  1650. 

SIMON  BRADSTREET,       THOMAS  WILLET, 

THOMAS  PRmCE,  GEORGE  BAXTER. 


The  remonsimnce  of  the  several  towns  in  the  Butch  territory, 
to  the  Governor  and  council,  in  1653. 

To  the  Hon.  Director  General  and  council  in  Kew  iVie- 
therlaiids.  tn-^.tlicr  tn  rlic  (•(„iiicil  of  the  hi-li  and  miglity 
Lords.  111.-  (iriirral  ..f  tlir  riiit.'.l  ri'nviii.-o. 

The  huuiM.'  iviiiMii-i  ranee  ami  |.ctitiMii  ,,f  the  cul.niics  and 
villaovs  in  thr  I'lMviiice  of  Ni'W  Nctlin-laiHl,  hiiiiiMy  ^li^w  : 
"XV^e  ackiiMwIcd-v  a  patci'iial  -ovcnuiiciit.  whit-li  <iod 
and  nature  liave  .  -laliii-lied  in  tlie  woi-ld.  tor  tlie  mainten- 
ance and  pre-rrxali-n  ..f  peace,  and  llie  welfare  of  men. 
not  only  priiicii'ally  in  e(,ntorniify  to  the  laws  of  nature,  but 
according  to  the  law  and  precepts  of  God,  to  which  we  con- 
sider ourselves  obliged  by  his  word,  and  therefore  sub- 
mit to  it. 

The  Lord  our  God  having  invested  their  high  mightinesses, 
the  States  (ieneral  as  his  ministers,  with  the  power  to_  pro- 
mote the  welfare  of  their  subjects,  as  well  of  those  residing 
within  the  United  Provinces,  as  of  those  at  this  side  of  the 
sea,  which  we  -i-atefnll v  aekno\vle(lg(>,  and  having  com- 
missioned in  the  ^anie  \ie\\,  >onie  >nlialtei'n  niaL;-i>trates, 
and  clothed  them  with  autlmrity  to  promote  the  saine  end, 
as  are  the  L(n'ds  Directors  of  the  privileged  AV  est  India  Com- 


169 


pany,  whom  we  acknowledge  as  Lords  and  Patroons  of  tliis 
place,  next  to  your  Lordsliips,  as  being  their  representa- 
tives. 

On  which  ground  we  humbly  conceive  that  our  rights 
and  privileges  are  the  same,  in  every  respect,  in  harmony 
with  those  of  Netherland,  as  being  a  mem^ber  dependent  on 
that  state,  and  by  no  means  a  conquered  subjugated  nation. 

We  settled  here  on  a  mutual  agreement  and  contract  with 
the  Lord  Patroons,  with  the  consent  of  the  natives,  who 
were  the  first  proprietors  of  these  lands,  of  whom  we  pur- 
chased the  soil  at  our  own  ox]>ense,  and  transfnnncil  a  wil- 
derness, witli  iiniiicii-('  lalini-,  into  a  few  small  \  illau;c>  an<l 
many  cultivated  farms,  ciicdUi-aged  by  the  privileges  which 
we  obtained,  and  whose  preservation  is  dear  to  us. 

We  expected  their  increase  and  amplification,  and  by  no 
means  that  these  wei-e  to  be  curtailed  down  to  this. 

The  deep  homage  and  profound  i-<'<[ir('t  \\  liicli  we  feel  for 
the  government  of  the  United  Netherlunds,  consisting  and 
coagulated  from  various  nations  from  ditt'erent  parts  of  the 
world  :  That,  we  leaving,  at  our  own  expense,  our  country 
and  countrymen,  voluiitai'ily  clioose  to  submit  to  their  pro- 
tection, and  liriiig  now  ininiatiMculated  in  their  body  under 
our  sovereign,  the  high  and  mighty  Lords,  the  States  Gene- 
ral, whom  we  acknowledge  as  our  liege  lords,  and  submit 
as  in  duty  bound,  to  the  txeneral  laws  of  the  L^nited  Prov- 
inces in  the  J^etherlands,  with  all  sucli  new  oi-dei's  and  laws 
which,  under  their  autliority,  may  be  piiblislicd  liore,  agree- 
ably to  the  custom  and  privilege  of  the  Netherlands. 

This  being  considered,  we  humbly  solicit  that  this  our  re- 
monstrance and  petition,  maybe  received  and  well  construed, 
without  being  misinterpreted. 

Wherefore,  although  with  all  humility,  we  will  declare 
freely  our  anxious  fears  by  which  we  some  time  since  have 
been  alarmed  and  discouraged  in  our  labors  and  callings,  so 
that  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  act  with  that  rigor  and  affec- 
tion in  promoting  the  welfare  of  our  country  as  well  as  be- 
fore, although  in  a  wilderness,  for  the  following  reasons. 

1.  Our  apprehension  to  see  an  arbitrary  government  es- 
tablished among  us,  Mdiich  is  contrary  to  the  first  intention 
and  genuine  principles  of  every  well  regulated  government, 
to  wit :  that  one  or  more  should  arrogate  the  exclusive 
power  to  dispose  arbitrarily  of  the  life  and  property  of  any 
individual,  and  this  in  virtue  or  under  pretext  of  a  law  or 
order  which  he  might  fabricate,  without  the  consent,  know- 


170 


ledge,  or  ajiproLation  of  tlic  wliole  body,  tlieir  agents  or  re- 
])resent!itives. 

Thus  new  laws  relative  to  the  lives  and  iiro])('rty  of  tlie 
inhabitants,  contrary  to  the  privileges  of  the  Ncthcrhiiids, 
and  odious  to  every  free-born  man,  and  iirinciiially  si>  to 
tiiose  whom  God  had  ])laced  under  a  free  g<i\ (■niiiiciit  on 
new  settled  lands,  who  ai'e  entitled  to  claim  laws  wlil<-h  are 
as  near  resembling  those  of  Xetherland  as  possible 

It  is  our  humble  opinion  tlnit  it  is  one  of  our  pi-ivih'ges, 
that  in  making  new  laws,  oni'  explicit  consent,  or  that  of  our 
re]>resentatives,  is  nnavoi(hdil\  iV(|iiiiTi|  t'oi'  tlicir  adoption. 

•2.  ('a>ually  we  are  every  \  cmi-  lull  ol' ;i|)prclioii-ion  rliat 
the  natives  of  the  land  may  romiiu  iici'  n  now  wav  iinainst 
us,  by  the  murders  they  commit  under  tin'  ]ii-ctc\t  tliMl  they 
have  not  been  ]iaid  for  their  land,  wliirh  c  renter  many  ca- 
lamities and  di~i-onraL;'<'-  M'ttlors,  and  cNcn  coiitriluitcs  to 
lessening  tln'  immliri'  :iiid  iiHhi--tr\'  ol'  the  I'cinaindci'. 

It  has,  thus  fur,  not  fccn  in  oui'  power  to  i|i-co\or  the 
truth  hereof,  or  ascertain  to  what  trihc  tlioo  miirilnci-  he- 
long.  It  is  too  often  disregarded  as  connnittcd  \<\  ^a^  ages 
who  reside  at  a  considcrahle  distance.  But,  lio  that  a>  it 
may,  it  fills  us  with  daily  anxiety,  so  that  we  ai'e  coniiielled 
to  look  out  for  our  own  defence,  as  we  cannot  discover  in 
what  manner  our  lives  and  property  shall  be  protected, 
except  by  our  own  means. 

8.  That  otficer>  and  magisti-ates,  althongli  personally, 
from  their  ipialitie;itioii>.  ile>ei-\ing  >iinilar  otliee-.  ai-e  ap- 
pointed contrary  to  the  laws  of  the  Xetlii-rland-.  to  many 
ofiices,  without  consent  or  nomination  of  the  peo],)le,  which 
nevertheless  are  the  most  concerned  in  the  choice. 

4.  That  many  oi-der-  and  ]ii'oi-lania1  i^n-  inade  lietiiiv. 
without  ai^in'oliatioii  nt'  ilie  c,.iintr\  in  tln'  dip  -  m|  \(.re.  Ky 
the  authority  of  tlii>  I  )irectoi-  (n-neral  ami  c.iiincil.  eil  her  of 
former  days  or  acliiall\  lading,  which  remain  ohligatoiy  .  al- 
though we  are  ignorant  of  their  force,  and  heconie  transgres- 
sors from  ignorance  w  ithout  knowing  it,  by  which  we  are 
exposed  to  many  daiigei>  and  troubles,  and  may  occasion 
our  own  ruin  witlh'Ht  knowiun'  it. 

5.  On  the  prom  i -c- .  if  -  r:i  iiN  a  Mil  -'cueral  letters  of  privi- 
leges and  exemptiMn-.  \arii.ii~  I  Ml  ai  ioii-  have  beeii  made 
at  a  great  expense  of  the  iidiahil ant>  in  Imilding  tlieir  hou>es, 
making  fences,  *fcc.,  t!io  cnlti\ation  of  the  land,  ami  jirim-i- 
]ially  so  by  those  of  _Middlehui'gh,  and  Middlewout,  with 
their  neighborhoods  and  other  places. 


171 


Many  single  farms  were  taken  up  by  persons  who  solicited 
a  deed  of  such  a  grant,  but  were  always  delaj'ed  and  disap- 
pointed, to  their  great  loss,  which  creates  a  suspicion  that 
some  innovations  are  in  contemplation,  or  that  there  is  a 
lurking  intention  to  alter  former  stipulations. 

6.  That  to  some  individnals,  large  quantities  of  land  are 
granted  for  tlieir  private  profit,  on  which  a  large  village  of 
20  or  30  families  might  have  been  established,  which,  in  the 
end,  must  eifect  an  immense  loss  to  the  Patroons,  with  re- 
gard to  their  revenues,  as  well  now  as  in  future,  and  which 
must  weaken  the  strength  of  the  province,  and  disable  that 
p:irr  lit'  tlie  country  to  provide  in  or  contribute  to  its  defence, 
and  tliat  of  its  inhabitants,  except  we  or  our  commonalty 
are  enabled  to  effect  it. 

7.  As  we  exert  ourselves  to  reduce  all  onr  griefs  within 
six  points,  which  we  ciMitideiitially  exjilaiiicd.  a-  we  renew 
our  allegiance,  in  the  hope  tliat  thc^c  will  xion  \>r  redressed, 
agreeably  to  the  privileges  of  our  country,  when  all  discon- 
tents shall  cease,  a  mutual  harmony  be  restored,  and  our 
anxiety  relieved. 

We  applv,  tliei'efirc.  to  your  wisdom  to  heal  our  sick- 
nesse-  aii'l  pain-.  Wo  >!iali  remain  thankful,  and  consider 
any  further  a]i[iliration  needless,  as  we  othei'wise  should  be 
compelled  to  do. 

Upon  which,  humbly  soliciting  your  honors'  answer  on 
every  point  or  article  in  -m-h  a  maniu'r  that  wc  may  remain 
satisfied,  or  proceed  furt hi  t,  iVm;.,  a>  ( ioil  >hall  dii-cct  our  step.-. 


Your  honors"  suppliant  servants. 


Done  Dec.  11,  1653. 


Aren't  Van  Hatten, 
Martin  Creiger, 
P.  L.  Vander  Girst, 
Frederick  Lubbertson, 
Paulus  Vander  Beek, 
William  Beekman, 
John  Hicks, 
Tobias  Peeks, 
William  Washborn, 
John  Somer.s, 
Peter  Wolpherton, 
Jan  Stryker, 
Thomas  Penewit, 
Elbert  Elbertson, 
Thomas  Spicer, 
George  Baxter, 
James  Hubbard, 
Robert  Coe, 
Thomas  Hazard, 


49 


172 


MSCELLANEOUS  PAI'KKS  ALLUDED  TO  IN  THE  TEXT. 

The  ori(jinal  social  contract  of  ifie  people  of  East  Hampton^ 
adopted  in  1G55. 

Fonismucli  as  it  has  pleased  tlic  Almii^lity  Gofl,  by  the 
wise  (lis])eiisatioii  of  his  providence  so  to  urdei-  ami  ilispose 
of  thiiiii's,  that  we,  the  iiihaliitaiit>  ul'  Ma-t  1  laiiiiitDii,  are 
now  dwell i 111:'  toa-ether  ;  the  word  of  (idd  i-e(|iiii-er>  tliat  to 
maintain  the  peai-e  and  union  of  sm-li  a  peoplr,  tliere  >lioidd 
be  an  orderly  and  decent  government  e~ialili~lied,  accoi-diini; 
to  God,  to  order  and  dispose  as  occa-ion  re(|ni)-e;  we 

do  therefore  sociate  and  conjoin  our-el\  e~  and  :-ncce--oi^.  to 
be  one  town  or  corporation,  and  do  lor  onr-eKc-  and  suc- 
cessors, and  such  as  shall  be  adjoined  to  n-  at  any  time 
hereafter,  enter  into  combination  and  con I'cilerat  ion  loi;-e- 
ther,  to  maintain  and  ]ire~ei'\c  tlie  ]iui'ityol'  tlie  ( io.-pel 
of  our  Loi-d  .ic-ii-  (  lii-i-t.  wliirli  \\(.  ii;,\v  jios^ess:  a-  also 
the  discipline  of  the  chuivh.  \\lii,  li  ,rdin-  to  tlie  i  rnth 
of  said  Gospel,  is  now  ]n-acti-e.l  amoii-  n-;  :i-  .tl-o  in  .,ni' 
civil  affairs,  to  be  o-uidi_'(|  and  iio\crned  liy  -udi  ia\\-  and 
orders  as  shall  be  nnide  according  to  God,  and  w  ldcli  by  the 
vote  of  the  major  part,  -hall  be  in  force  among  us.  Fur- 
thermore, we  do  engage  ourselves,  that  in  all  N  ote-  foi-  choos- 
ing officers  or  making  orders,  that  it  be  ;i,  i  Mr,liii-  to  con- 
science and  our  best  light.  And  also  we  do  ,  n-  a  -e  .  m  i  - ,  |\  os 
by  this  combination  to  stand  to  ami  maintain  tin-  auiiioi-ity 
of  the  several  otHcers  of  the  town  in  tlieii-  determinations 
and  actions,  according  to  their  orders  and  laws,  that  either 
are  or  shall  be  made,  not  swerving  therefrom.  In  witness 
whereof,  ikc*   

Original  Dutch  Grant  for  Jamaica. 

Having  seen  the  request  or  desire  of  the  iidiabitants  of 
the  town  of  Hempstead,  and  subjects  of  the  ]iid\  ince,  the 
governor  general  and  council  have  consente<l  and  granted 
unto  the  afore>aid  iidiabitants.  tree  ]ea\'e  to  erect  i.r  huild  a 
new  town  acconling  untotlieir  place  limited,  named  Canar- 
'z'.y;?,  about  the  midway  from  llempsTead.  upon  -iicli  privileges 
and  particular  ground  briefs,  siudi  as  the  inliabitants  of  the 
New-Netherlands  generally  do  possess  in  their  lands,  and 

*  The  first  settlers  of  the  several  towns  In  Connecticut  seem  to  have  entered  into  formal 
contracts  of  this  nature.  The  preceding  is  said  to  have  been  taken  from  that  of  Windsor,  and 
It  is  probable  that  the  several  English  towns  on  Long-Island,  in  their  origin,  more  or  less,  for- 
merly adopted  similar  compacts. 


173 


likewise  in  the  choice  of  their  magistrates  as  in  the  other 
villages  or  towns,  as  Middleborough,  Breuklin,  Midwout 
and  Amersfort. 

Done  at  the  fort  in  I^ew-lSTetherland,  this  \ 
21st  of  March,  1656.  j 

PETEE  STUYVESANT. 
By  order  of  the  governor  general  and  council  of  the  I^ew- 
]^etherlands. 

CORNELIUS  VAN  RUYVEN,  Secretary. 


TKANS ACTIONS   OF   THE   GENERAL   ASSEMBLY   OF  CONNECTICUT, 
RELATIVE  TO  LONG-ISLAND. 

At  a  session  of  the  general  assembly  at  Hartford,  March 
10th,  1663. 

This  com-t  have  voted  Mr.  Wyllis  and  Mr.  Matthew  Al- 
lyn,  to  go  over  to  Long-Island  to  settle  government  on  the 
west  end  of  the  Island,  according  to  the  agreement  at 
Hempstead,  in  February  last ;  and  those  gentlemen  are  de- 
sired to  issue  the  matter  twixt  I.  Scott  and  Bloomer,  and 
they  are  further  desired  to  take  in  with  them  the  assistance 
of  the  commissioners  in  those  towns,  for  the  regulating  of 
any  disturbances  as  occasion  is  presented. 

A  true  copy  from  the  public  records  of  the  colony  of  Con- 
necticut.   Examined  this  8th  dav  of  August,  1664,  by 
GEORGE  WYLLYS,  Secretary.  ' 
By  order  of  the  governor  general  and  council  of  the  New 
Netherlands. 

At  a  general  assembly  held  at  Hartford,  May  the  12th, 
1664,  for  election, 

Whereas,  his  Majesty  hath  been  graciously  pleased  to  con- 
firm unto  this  colony,  by  charter,  all  that  part  of  his  domin- 
ions'in  New-England,  bounded,  as  in  the  said  charter  is  ex- 
pressed, with  the  Islands  adjoining. 

Tliis  court  doth  declare,  that  they  claim  Long-Island  for 
one  of  those  adjoining  Islands,  expressed  in  the  charter,  ex- 
cept a  precedent  right  doth  appear,  approved  by  his  Majesty. 

This  court  doth  desire  and  request  the  worshipful  gover- 
nor, Mr.  Matthew  Allyn,  Mr.  Wyllys,  and  Captain  Youngs, 
to  go  over  to  Long-Island,  and  to  settle  the  English  planta- 
tions on  the  Island,  under  this  government,  according  to 
instructions  given  them. 

Tiie  aforesaid  committee  are  hereby  authorized  to  erect 
and  constitute  quarter  courts,  or  appoint  other  fit  seasons 


174 


for  tlie  keepini;  of  court,  for  the  adiiiiuistriitiou  of  jnstioe. 
that  all  cases  may  be  tried  ucccnlinu'  to  law,  (life,  liiuhs  and 
hanisliineiit  excepted,)  and  to  do  tlicii-  eiii|ea\  oi-s  so  to  settle 
matters,  that  tlu-  pt^ople  may  be  l)(>tli  cis  illy,  |ieaceably  and 
relii;'i(>iisly  ;i-(.>vei'iie(l  in  tlie  En<>:lish  plaiitat  ii>ii>,  mi  as  they 
may  win  the  heathen  tu  th(»  knuwlcij^c  uf  <iiii'  i.ni'il  and 
Saviour  Jt':-n-  (  'liri-t.  by  tlii'ii-  -uIht  .-nK!  rdiLiIi cunxci-^a- 
tiou,  as  his  ^[aje>ty  (.>ur  Lord  and  Kini;-  iv,|iiii  r-  in  --ra- 
cious  letters  pateut,  granted  to  hi>  suhjr.-N  In  ic  In  this 
colony;  and  in  case  of  crimes  of  a  eapit.-M  n;itiiir.  iIk  n  ai-e 
to  have  libertv  to  take  the  opportnnit  \  of  tin'  (■nint-  nf  lair- 
tield  or  Ilartfurd.  the  like  librrty  they  haw  in  ,,r  rrvicw. 
They  nia\  ab.>  i:i\e  oath  to  wlm  arc  accepted  by  this 

court  I'-r  rii  ciiicii  uii  the  I-land.  and  to  du  what  else  they 

judliV  CM],, lure  tbr  the      m  ),|  ut'  tile  ciloiiy. 

A  true  copy  from  the  pnlilic  rccurd-  nftlic  culunv  of  Con- 
necticut.   Examined  tlii-  ^th  (la\  df  An-n-t.  17<'4.  bv 
(tK(  )]:(;!-:  WYLUS,  S,_rrctar>/.  " 

The  nnnerrafion  of  Long- Island  to  J^ew-lTorlc. 
The  di'tci-niinatinn  of  his  Majesty's  commissioners  relative 
to  the  liwiiiidario  of  hi>  Knyal  Highness  the  Duke  of  York's 
patent,  and  of  the  patent  of  Connecticut,  November  30th, 
1664. 

By  vii'tue  of  his  Majesty's  commission,  we  have  heard  the 
dift'erence  about  the  lioiind-  of  tlie  patents  granted  to  his 
Royal  llii:hnes>  the  1  )uke  uf  "I'ork.  and  his  Majesty's  colony 
of  C'oiini'cf  icut  :  and  lia\  iiii:-  dclibcratelv  eon>idenMl  all  the 
reason-  alled-cd  ],y  Mr.  Allen,  seni<ir,  Mr.  (-oiild.  Mr. 
Richarcb  and  (  'aptain  Winthrop,  app()inted  by  the  a--enibly 
held  at  Harttbi'd,  the  13th  day  of  October,  iVjM,  to  ac-coni- 
pany  John  \Vintlirop,  Esq.,  the  Governor  of  hi-  Maje-ty's 
colony  of  Connecticut  to  New- York,  and  by  _Mr.  liowell 
and  Captain  Youngs  of  Long-I>land,  \\\\\  the  said  Long- 
Island  should  l)e  under  the  govei'nmeiit  of  Connecticut, 
which  are  too  long  to  be  recited.  We  do  declare  and  order, 
that  the  sonthei-n  bounds  of  his  Majesty's  colony  of  Connec- 
ticut is  the  sea,  and  that  Long-Tsland  is  to  be  under  the  gov- 
ernment of  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  \'ork.  a-  is 
ex})re>-ed  by  plain  words  in  the  said  ]iatents  rojiecti vely, 
and  abo  by  virtut'  of  his  Alajesty's  coinnii>sion,  and  by  the 
consent  of  both  the  governor  and  the  gentlemen  above 
named  ;  we  also  order  and  declare  that  the  creek  or  river  call- 
ed Momoroneck,  which  is  reputed  to  be  about  twelve  miles  to 


175 


the  east  of  Westchester,  and  a  line  drawn  from  the  east 
point  or  side,  where  the  fresh  water  falls  into  the  salt,  at 
high-water  mark,  N.  IST.W.  to  the  line  of  the  Massachnsetts, 
be  the  western  bounds  of  the  said  colony  of  Connecticut, 
and  the  plantations  lying  westward  of  that  creek  and  line 
so  drawn,  to  be  under  his  Royal  Highness'  government  ; 
and  all  plantations  lying  eastward  of  that  creek  and  line,  to 
be  under  the  government  of  Connecticut. 

Given  under  our  hands  at  Fort  James,  ]N^ew-York,  on 
Manhattan  Island,  this  30th  day  of  Nov.,  166i. 

RICHARD  XICOLLS, 
GEORGE  CARTWRIGHT, 
SAMUEL  MAVERICK. 
We,  underwritten,  on  behalf  of  the  colony  of  Connecticut, 
have  assented  unto  this  determination  of  his  Majesty's  com- 
missioners, in  relation  to  the  bounds  and  limits  of  his  Royal 
Highness  the  Duke's  patent,  and  the  patent  of  Connecticut. 

JOHN"  WIIn'THROP, 
MATHEW  ALLEN, 
NATHAN"  GOULD, 
JAMES  RICHARDS, 
JOHN"  WINTHROP. 


A  list  of  the  Deputies  from  the  several  towns  on  Long- 
Island^  and  from  the  town  of  Westchester^  which  com- 
jyosed  the  General  Ax^i  mhhi  convened  at  Hempstead  hy 
Richard  Mcolls,  the  \.sf  nf  March,  1665. 

jVeio- Utrecht,  Jaquc>  ( 'oi-tcllcau,  Y(uiiiLi-or  Hope. 

Gramsend,  Jauirs  Ilubbai-d,  .lolm  liowiif. 

Flatlands,  ElluM't  Kllicrtson.  Krl,,tlr  Martens. 

Flathush,  John  Strvkcr.  I ItMidi-ick  Gucksen. 

BusJnoick,  John  Stcalniaii.  ( ii>l)ert  Tunis. 

Brooklyn,  Hendrick  LulilxM'tzen,  John  Evertsen. 

JVeio  Town,  Richard  IJctts,  John  Coe. 

Flushing,  Elias  I),,imlity.  Richard  Cornhill. 

Jaiiiaica,  Daniel  Dcntoii,  Hiuma-  Benedict. 

Hempstead,  John  I !  icks.  K-.l.ri-t  .1  ack>on. 

Olisfei^ay,  Joh n  I' 1 1 . ! c r h i  1  k  M a 1 1 1 1 i a II arvey . 

Huntington,  Jona>  AVtmik  -inhii  K'cti'hani. 

B rookliaven,  Daniel  Lane,  linger  Rarton. 

Southold,  William  Wells,  John  Youngs. 

South  Hampton,  Thomas  Baker. 

Fast  Hampton,  Thomas  Baker,  John  Stratton. 

Westchester,  Edward  Jessup,  John  Quinby. 
50 


176 


Tlte  Address  of  the  Deputies  assembled  at  Ilemjystead,  to 
his  Jtoyal  JligJmess,  the  Duke  of  Ym'lc, 

AVe,  tlie  deputies  duly  clcctcil  iVmii  llic  several  townsupon 
Louij-Islaud,  being  asx  inMol  ;it  I  Icinii^tcad,  in  general 
meeting,  by  authority  (lcri\i  (l  tVuin  ymir  i-nyal  liiglinoss 
under  the  honorable  ('(ilmirl  Mcnll-.  a-  (Icimty  i\ci'nor. 
do  most  humbly  and  tliaiikrnlly  ;i(  k now  Irdi^-c  td  youi-  i-nyal 
liighness,  the  great  Imimr  and  >;il  i-tiid  inn  we  i-cccivL'  in  oui' 
dependence  upon  y^nr  i-oyal  liiiilinc--.  aci-( .i-ding  to  the 
tenor  of  his  -iinvd'  niMjc-ryV  |iMtcnt.  -i-anrcd  the  12th  day 
of  March,  l'^';!:  wluTcin  we  nckiiMwlcilMC  nnr-clvcs,  our 
heirs  and  succc--i ir-  t'ui'cxci-.  tu  lie  (■(iiMi>i'i/.iMl  tn  all  iiitent> 
and  purposes,  as  therein  i>  imn'c  at  hirL:c  i'\|irc-~iMl.  And 
we  do  publicly  and  umininn m>ly  (Icclnir  diii'  clircil'ul  sub- 
mission to  all  such  hn\>,  statntc^  and  (irilinaiirc-,  which  are 
or  shall  be  made  by  virrne  ut  antlmrity  IVmhi  your  royal 
highness,  youi--  hcir>  and  siicci>~Mr~  I'. irc\ I'l' :  A~  al^o,  that 
we  will  maintain,  uphold  and  dcl'ond.  to  thi'  utiiio>t  of  uur 
power,  and  jicril  ol'  us,  our  hciiv  and  -nccc~-or--  t'oi'cver.  all 
the  rights,  title  and  inton-^t.  i^-raiitod  by  hi>  -aci-rd  niajcsty 
to  your  ro_yal  hiiiiiiii  ---.  ai^ain-t  all  |in'tcii>ion>  or  iii\ a-ious.- 
foreign  and  domc>tic;  \vi'  Immiil;-  ali-oady  well  a->ured,  tliat. 
in  so  doing,  we  perform  oui'  duty  of  alloLiiance  to  lii>  niajoty. 
as  freeborn  subjects  of  the  l<iiiL;'doiii  ..t'  Kngland  inhabiting 
in  these  his  majesty's  donnnion>.  We  do  farther  beseech 
your  royal  highne»  to  a<'ce]it  of  t]ii>  ad(bx'»,  as  the  iirst 
fruits  in  t]n>  general  meeting,  for  a  memorial  and  record 
against  us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  when  we.  or  any  of 
them,  -hall  fail  in  our  duties.  Lastly,  we  beseech  your  I'oyal 
]nghne~>  to  take  our  poyerties  ami  ueces>itie>.  in  tliis  wil- 
derue--  coiinti'v,  into  speedy  con>idei-ation  ;  that,  by  con- 
stant >n|i|ilie~  of  trade,  and  your  royal  highness'  more  par- 
ticular (duiiti  iiance  of  grace  tons,  and  protection  of  us,  we 
may  daily  more  and  more  be  encouraged  to  bestow  our 
labors  to  the  iin|irovemrnt  of  t]ie>e  liis  majesty's  western 
donunioii-.  undei'  youi-  ri>\al  1m::1iii:'>s  ;  for  whose  health, 
long  life,  and  eternal  iiappiiie^^.,  we  shall  ever  pra}',  as  in 
duty  bound. 

From  Furman\s  BrooMyn. 

This  address  was  agreed  on  at  the  meeting  of  the  depu- 
ties at  Hempstead,  in  March,  16G5. 


177 


A  JYcr/'iifrre  and  Ri  mnnxfrnnr-p  of  fJie  r><'p>ifh'!i  a-sfti^)nl}]e(l 

at  IL  inp^fr,!'].  Ill   ^r,li'r/i.    XMul.  iV'IilfuHJ  fil  fli,'  iVif'.rnit 

appi'i'liiUKiiins:  (if  .soiiii'  iiKiffei's  tlii'H  If  11(1  till  i-i'  triinviicted. 

His  Majesty  having  employed  liis  ships  of  war,  and  sent 
a  considerable  number  of  soldiers  to  reduce  these  parts  of 
America  to  his  obedience,  the  present  government  was 
readily  received,  and  peaceably  settled  on  Long  Island,  by 
virtue  of  his  Majesty's  letters  j^atent,  made  and  granted  to 
his  IJoyal  Highness,  .lame-,  I)uke  of  Yoi-k  and  Albany, 
boai-ing  date  the  twelfth  day  of  ]\rarch.  in  tlie  >ixteenth  of 
the  reign  of  our  sovereign  Lord,  King  Chailo  tlic  H.,  pub- 
lished at  Gravesend,  on  Long-Island,  atiirc-aid,  about  the 
middle  of  August  f)ll()\ving,  in  the  audicncr  ot'  a  groat 
number  of  the  inhabitants  thereof,  by  the  Riglit  Ibuhiralile 
Ool.  Richard  ^Niolls,  de])Uty  Governor  unilci'  hi-  Koyal 
Highness.  At  which  time  and  ]ilari'  (iov.  W  intlirop.  bi_'ing 
then  present,  openly  declared  that  tlirir  cMlony  chilnicMl  no 
jui'i-diction  il<  'in,;  nvcr  Loiig-Llaiid  :  but  what  tln-y  had 
'dni,..  \\a-  fill'  tlic  wfltaiv.  pracr.  and  .luict  >L-ttleinent  of  his 
Maje>tyV  >iil)j('ct-,  a-  tla-y  were  tiie  nearest  court  of  record 
to  them  nndci'  his  Majoty  ;  but  now  his  Majestv''s  pleasure 
was  fully  sigiiihcd  by  his  letters  patent,  as  above  said,  their 
jurisdiction  over  rhcni  (■(■a>ed  anil  became  nnll;  whereupon 
our  honorable  goNcnioi'  then  iH-pHrd  al>o,  that  lie  would  not 
put  out  any  of  tho  olHccrs  which  Connecticut  had  set  up  in 
the  civil  state,  but  <-ontii-m  them  under  his  power  to  act  in 
every  town,  until  a  convenient  season  served  to  convene 
deputies  from  all  the  towns  on  the  islaml,  when  and  wdiere 
laws  were  to  be  enacted  ami  civil  otKcers  established. 

Shortly  after,  at  another  meeting  of  our  honorable  Gov- 
eiinor  and  Connecticut  Commissioners,  several  persons  were 
there  confirmed  by  him  in  civil  authoi-ity,  by  his  Avriting 
under  his  hand,  Avhich  they  published  in  several  towns  where 
they  were  to  collect  rates  and  former  dues  for  Connecticut, 
unto  which  power  these  eastern  towns  readily  and  willingly 
obeyed  and  submitted  for  the  space  of  six  months  at  least. 

In  March  following,  we  were  convened,  being  deputies 
chosen  by  the  several  towns  in  a  general  assembly  held  at 
Hempstead,  where  his  Majesty's  aforesaid  patent  was  first 
read,  and  a  commission  from  his  Eoyal  Higliness  the  Duke 
of  York,  empowering  and  investing  the  aforesaid  Col.  Rich- 
ard Nicolls,  with  authority  to  put  the  contents  of  the  said 
patent  into  practice  and  execution,  who  declared  unto  us 
that  our  first  business  should  be  to  decide  some,  and  to  com- 


178 


pose  other  differences  wliicli  were  on  float  before  lie  came 
to  the  government,  accor(lin<>j  to  the  manner  ami  form  in 
practice  since  our  late  ackn(.)\vled<>;ment  of  the  Connecticut 
authority ;  but  that  he  had  prepared  a  body  of  general  laws 
hereafter  to  be  observed  ;  the  which  were  delivered  to  us, 
and  upon  ])erusal  we  found  them  to  be  a  collection  of  the 
laws  now  in  ])ractice  in  his  Majesty's  other  colonies  in  Xew- 
Eiigland,  with  abatement  of  the  severity  against  such  as 
differ  in  matters  of  conscience  and  religion. 

We  proceeded  to  object  against  some  and  jiropose  other 
clauses  in  the  laws,  wlici'cuiion  scvci'id  amendments  were 
made  with  t'ui-tlici'  ;i>-iii-;iiicc  frum  tlic  ( inNci'iior,  that  when 
any  reasonable  alteration  ^lioiild  We  (itl'd'ed  tVom  any  town 
to  the  sessions,  the  Justicr-  >liuul(l  ti'iider  the  Mime  at  the 
assizes,  and  receive  sati>taci iun  therein,  the  trnth  and  effects 
whereof  we  have  since  found. 

The  Governor  further  declared  that  for  his  own  part  he 
expected  no  benefit  for  his  labors  out  of  the  ]iiirses  of  the 
inhabitants,  not  so  much  as  to  defray  lii>  i  liai  -i-  ami  expenses 
at  the  courts;  but  that  it  was  abr^olntely  ncci— -ary  to  estab- 
lish a  form  and  rule  of  county  i-ates,  to  >n|nioi  t  the  public 
charge;  whereupon  we  [-itehrd  npon  the  I'oi-ni  nml  rule  at 
this  day  observed  in  Connecticut,  which  was  known  to  some 
of  those  present. 

In  the  next  })lace  we  conceived  that  two  hundred  ])ounds 
yearly  might  defray  the  public  chai-L:-e  ;  to  which  tlie  Gov- 
ernor i-eplied  that  he  would  touch  n.mc  ot  the  public  money, 
but  that  the  iiigii  sheriff"  from  year  to  \oai'  -hould  cause  the 
san)e  to  be  collected,  and  give,  at  the  expiration  of  bi>  otHce, 
in  open  court  at  the  general  a»ize^,  an  account  of  hi>  re- 
ceipts and  disbui'sements. 

If  it  should  happen  the  rate  was  more  than  the  charge  of 
his  year,  the  overi)lus  sliould  remain  to  the  use  of  the  coun- 
try the  next  year;  if  the  charge  was  greater  than  Hn  rate, 
the  country  was  obliged  to  bear  it  with  an  ad.lii  ioiml  rate, 
in  all  which  transactions  we  acted  w  irh  -inceriiy  of  heart, 
according  to  the  best  of  our  un^h  i'-landing.  and  in  iibedience 
to  his  majesty's  authority  established  by  his  letters  patent 
over  us. 

Moreover  we  appointed  a  committee  to  attend  the  o;ov- 
ernor  for  his  resolution,  whethci-  we  niiLiht  not.  accor.lin'u-  to 
the  custom  of  the  other  ccdonit-.  clhu.^c  ,,iir  ma- i-i inter-. 
"We  received  answer  by  our  dejnities,  that  they  had  >een  the 
instruction  of  His  Royal  Highness,  wherein  the  choice  of 


179 


all  tlie  officers  of  Justice  was  solely  to  be  made  by  tlie  Gov- 
ernor, and  some  of  ns  do  know  that  a  Parliament  of  Eng- 
land can  neitlier  make  a  judge  nor  justice  of  the  peace. 

In  conclusion,  the  governor  told  us  that  we  had  seen  and 
read  his  Majesty's  letters  patent,  the  commission  and  in- 
structions from  Ids  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  York,  and 
if  we  woidd  liave  a  greater  share  in  the  government  than 
he  could  allow,  we  must  go  to  the  king  for  it. 

^Nevertheless  some  malicious  men  have  asperMd  u~  be- 
trayers of  their  liberties  and  privileges,  in  suIim  liliiiig  to 
an  address  to  Ids  liuyal  Highness,  full  of  duty  and  gratitude, 
whci-fby  his  liuyal  Highness  may  be  encouraged  the  more 
to  take  us  and  the  welfare  of  our  posterity  into  his  most 
princely  care  and  consideration. 

Neither  can  any  clause  in  that  address  bear  any  other 
natural  sense  and  construction  than  our  obedience  and  sub- 
mission to  his  Majesty's  letters  patent,  according  to  our  duty 
and  allegiance. 

However,  that  our  neighbors  and  fellow  subjects  may  be 
undeceived  of  the  fiilse  asjiersions  thrown  upon  us,  and  the 
impostures  of  men  di^atircted  to  government  manifrsted, 
lest  they  >li(iuM  ftii'tlitT  ail  upon  tlie  \\■eakne^-  of  ntliers; 
we  the  then  dei)Uties  and  subscril)ers  of  the  saiil  aihhx'ss, 
conceive  ourselves  obliged  to  publish  tliis  iiarrati\e  an<l  re- 
monstrance of  the  several  passages  and  >t('ii>  i-iimhicting  to 
the  present  government  uiuler  which  we  now  live,  and  we 
desire  that  a  i-ccord  hcivot'  may  be  kept  in  each  town,  that 
future  ages  may  not  l)e  seasoned  with  the  sour  malice  of 
such  unreasonable  and  groundless  aspersions. 

Dated  the  21st  day  of  Jime,  1666. 


Remonstrance  of  Southampton  against  the  order  requiring 
them  to  take  out  a  new  patent. 

Southampton,  Feh.  15,  1670. 

To  the  Governor : 

Honourable  Sir — We,  the  iidiabitants  of  this  town,  do 
hereby  present  unto  you  our  humble  service.  (.Vc.  to  show 
our  respect  to  your  lionour's  pleasure,  and  oui-  dlxMlicnci-  to 
the  order  of  tlie  honourable  court  of  assize — we  are  Itold  to 
manifest  herein  unto  you  some  i-ea^()ii>  wliy  \\v  ;ii'e  unwill- 
ing to  receive  any  further  patent  t'<ir  (.mr  laud-,  a-  followetli  : 

1st,  Because,  as  we  liave  honestly  purchased  thena  of  the 
natives,  (the  proper  and  natural  owners  of  them,)  so  also  we 
51 


liiive  already  the  patent  rijilit.  hiwfiilly  .ilitaiiied  and  derived 
from  the  lionourable  earl  of  Si  ii  lln-.  w  e  being  to  pay  one 
lifth  i)art  of  gold  and  silver  ow.  and  four  bushels  of  Indian 
corn  yearly. 

2dly,  Because  the  injunction  laid  on  persons  and  ])lanta- 
tions'bythe  laws  in  IGtUi,  to  take  forth  patents  fur  tlieir 
lands  from  our  then  governor,  we  gniumh'dly  cdncriNc  in- 
tended not  the  plantations  on  this  ea>t  end  ot'  the  I-hmd, 
but  only  tliose  at  the  west  end  who  were  reilih  rd  ri  Min  a 
foreign  government,  even  as  heretofore.  Those  1  .n-  li-li  i  hat 
came  to  dwell  within  the  precincts  whieli  tlie  Dutch  claimed 
took  out  land  briefs  from  tlie  Dutch  -mm  rn.ir. 

3dly,  Because  those  of  ns,  win.  were  lii'^t  lieginners  of 
this  ])lantation.  i)ut  none  but  miii--''1\c-  Ici  llic  cli:ii-i:e  in 
our  transport  hitlier,  we  great  I  \  li;i/.ardcd  our  li\c-  i.i--Mine 
\o6t  their- 1  hi'i-e  amongst  and  by  the  thm  nunicron-  and 
barbarou-.l\  cruel  natives;  yet  tln-ougli  divine  Providence 
we  havt>  i,o-M'»ed  these  our  land>  aiiout  ;;n  year-  without 
interruption  or  molestation  by  any  claiming  them  Iron)  us, 
and  therelbre  we  cannot  see  why  we  >]ioul(l  lo-e  any  of  our 
rightfid  prl\  ileges.  so  dearly  and  honestly  purchased,  or  how 
our  laiel-  can  lie  belter  assured  to  ns  by  taking  out  another 
])atcnt  from  any  one. 

■ily,  And  marei  i,ill\  because  by  our  said  i>atenr  wc^had 
license  (we  being  Imi  few  i  to  put  ourselves  under  aii\  of  his 
niajest\'"-  colonic-  1'.  ii-  -o\crnment,  whereupon  m-cordingly 
by"  \N  illiiiL:-  coii-,  !i!  Ml,  .-ill  sides,  we  adjoiiie(l  our-cUe-  to 
liartlord  jnriMliction,  and  divers  of  us  deeanie  meinbci-s  of 
the  king's  court  there,  and  when  the  wortliy  Mr.  Winthro]) 
obtained  a  patent  from  his  majesty  our  ])re^ent  lord.  King 
Charles  II.,  for  the  >aid  colony' of  llai'tford.  onr  town  i-  in- 
cluded, and  some  of  the  tlien  chief  member-  of  our  town 
exi)ressly  nominated  in  the  patent  ;  -o  tlmt  tin-  iihiee  liecame 
undeniably  an  absolute  limb  or  i)art  of  the  -iild  (  o|,,iiy  :  and 
moreover,  since  that  and  after  hi-  iiiaje-i  \  -  eMinini— loners 
came  into  these  parts,  hi-  maje-ty  of  grace  ami  free  motion 
was  pleased  so  far  to  enconrag.'  hi-  jieople  of  the  -a hi  colony, 
as  by  his  letter  to  assure  them  that  their  eeelesia>tieal  am] 
civil*  privileges  which  he  had  granted  them  should  not  be 
infringed  or  dinnnished  by  his  said  commissioners  or  any 
others  whatsoever. 

Sly,  It  is  not  only  in  all  om-  experience  beyond  all  par- 
allel, that  each  town  should  be  constrained  to  take  forth  a 
patent,  but  also  the  patents  here  imposed  and  those  given 


181 


fortli,  wliicli  yet  we  have  seen,  seem  to  bind  persons  and 
towns  in  iiiattur  uf  payiiiciits  to  the  will  and  mercy  of  their 
lord  an<l  his  succc'>s()rs,  or  lieutenants;  and  wlio  can  tell  but  in 
time  to  come  those  may  succeed  who,  tliron^h  an  avaricious 
distemper,  may  come  upon  ns  with  such  heavy  taxes  and 
intolerable  l)urilciis,  as  may  make  us,  or  our  poor  posterity, 
to  groan  like  I-rarl  in  l']i:-yiit. 

Oly,  liccau.-c  i)eoph'  are  enjoined  to  acknowledge  in  the 
said  patent  (^if  we  mistake  not  greatly)  that  his  royal  high- 
ness the  duke  of  York  is  sole  proprietor  of  the  whole  Island, 
which  we  cannot  consent  unto,  iiecausc  we  know  oui'sclves 
to  be  the  true  pi'oprietors  of  the  laiid^  c  Ihtc  ]ioss('>s,  with 
the  appui'tenancc.'s  thereunto  behuiging,  and  alsc.t  Itecause 
im-n  arc  rnjoincd  liy  the  said  patent  to  pay  not  only  all  jnst 
due-,  liut  aho  all  drniands  that  may  be  made  by  his  royal 
liigliiic>s  or  lii>  aiitlioi-ized  agent. 

7l\,  r>('i'aiir-('  wr  are  more  than  confident  his  majesty 
will  desire  no  more  of  us  than  already  we  are,  even  his 
faithful  liege  people  who  have  many  of  us  already  taken, 
and  the  rest  of  us  are  ready  to  take,  the  oath  of  allegiance 
unto  liini.  Willing  we  are  to  ))ay  oui'  ju>t  due>  in  town  aiul 
to  the  country,  ami  I'cady  To  -er\ e  lii<  niajc-ty  with  our 
lives  and  fortunes  ;  we  are  his  subjects,  and  we  kuiiw  he  will 
not  make  us  slaves  to  any. 

Sly,  Because  Gen.  Nichols  gave  it  under  his  hand  that 
we  at  this  end  should  have  as  gi'eat  pi'ivileges  as  any  colony 
in  New-England,  and  yet  Wi-  are  denieil  our  deimties  at  the 
courts  ;  we  are  forcetl  to  pay  customs  foi'  goods  im])orted,  for 
which  custom  hath  before  been  paid  to  his  majesty's  nse  in 
Knglan.l. 

and  Lastly.  The  king's  comniissioiiers  in  the  year 
l(;i;4,  l)\  their  proclanuxtion,  seenu'd  to  (leiinind  only  the 
iidverninciit.  w  Ith  exact  and  full  ])ronii>e  that  the  people 
shoul.l  enjoy  \\  liaf-oc\ ci-  (bMr>  hle>-ing  and  their  own  in- 
dustr\-  had  furni>he(l  them  withal;  and  we  see  not  what 
more  a  patent  can  a»ure  u>  ;  e>iiecially  considt'ring  that  the 
patents  here  taken  forth  by  places,  or  particulai'  ]ierMm>,  se- 
cure them  not  absolutely;  for  it  seems  to  us  by  the  order  of 
the  court  of  assizes,  even  from  them  who  have  received  a 
patent,  wood  and  timbei-  may  be  taken  away  without  leave 
and  without  pay  ;  in  all  which  I'espects,  and  some  other,  we 
cannot  be  willing  to  take  forth  UKn-e  patent  than  we  have. 
And  if  we  do  succee<l  otherwise  than  we  ex])ect,  we  hope  we 
shall,  like  good  Christians,  patiently  bear  the  pressure  that 


182 


may  be  permitted  to  fall  upon  us,  yet  never  fail  to  be  fervent 
votaries  for  your  liunourV  real  liap))iness. 

[Sijiued  by  Tlionuis  llalsey,  juii.,  and  49  otbers.J 


TJte  Petition  of  the  Memhers  of  the  Court  of  As.n.ze,  to  the 
Ihike  of  York,  f 01'  an  Assembly. 

To  his  Royal  iri(jhness,James,  Duke  of  York  and  Albany: 

Tlie  humble  petition  of  the  council  of  the  province,  the 
aldermen  of  New- York,  and  of  the  justices  assembled 
at  a  special  court  of  assize  hehl  at  the  city  of  New-York, 
June  2yth,  1G81, 

Sheweth — that  we,  your  royal  highness'  most  liuiiiMc  and 
obedient  servants,  assembled  together  by  vii'tnc  «it'  yimr 
roval  liii;'lnicss'  autlinrity  established  in  liis  cnldiiN-,  liinnlily 
craviiii:  tin'  cniiiiiiictiun  and  a>-i-t  ai  ice  uf  t  lil-  ci  m  i1  toiiiake 
a  subnii>>ive  adih'os  to  your  royal  :  tlici-ciii  rcpi'e- 

senting  the  great  pressure  and  lanicntalilr  coiidition  of  Ids 
majesty's  subjects  in  this  your  royal  hi-lnic--"  (-..lony  ;  and 
also  ]>n'>eiitiiiL;-,  for  the  onlv  rcni(Ml\  and  cax'  ot'  tlio>e  bur- 
dens, that  an  a-MMubl;,  ..f  t'lu'  iM.,|,ir  may  he  ,"^tal)li.lied  by 
a  free  choicr  of  the  tVcch. i|( Icis  and  iniialiilant>  of  lhi>  yoii'r 
royal  highness'  colony.  The  whieli  i-eipiot,  w  r  lia\  liii;'  ma- 
turely and  deliberately  weighed  and  coii^idei-ei  1.  and  lia\  ing 
full  assurance  ot"  your  royal  higlinc~>"  gudd  gracion>  and 
real  inlcntinn-  to  encourage  and  aihance  tlic  ea~e.  lieiietit. 
aiul  adxaiilage  ol'  trade,  and  iIk'  inercliant>  and  inlialiitaiits 
of  this  your  said  cojuny.  and  the  removal  of  all  things  that 
might  obstruct  or  hinder  the  same  to  us  particularly,  sigin- 
tied  bv  your  i;'racious  commission  given  to  .lolm  Lemon, 
your  I'oval  hii:linc>-"  agent  and  servant  here,  bearing  date 
the  21tii  of  May,  1G80,  which  with  great  joy  ami  general 
satisfaction  was  received  and  published.  Ex|K(tIng  and 
longing  for  the  happy  event  of  such  your  royal  lilglmess' 
grace  and  favour,  the  enjoyment  of  wliicli  we  have  not  as 
yet  attained,  we  find  onr-el\c-  eneoni'age(l  ami  obliL:'e<l  to 
concur  with  the  said  grand  iiKpie^t  ;  ami  in  all  >ubmi>>ive 
manner  to  prostrate  ourselves  at  your  roval  highiie^-"  feet, 
and  represent  the  miserable  and  deplorable  cMndition  of  the 
inhabitants  of  this  your  royal  liighiie>-'  cohmy.  who  for 
many  years  ])ast  have  groaned  under  ine\pre>>ilile  burdens 
by  having  an  arbitrary  and  absolute  power  u>ed  and  exer- 
cised over  us,  by  which  a  yearly  revenue  is  exacted  from  us 


183 


against  our  wills,  and  trade  grievously  burdened  witli  undue 
and  unusual  customs  imposed  on  the  men-liaudise  without 
our  consent — our  liberty  and  freedom  iiitlu'alled,  and  the 
inhabitants  wholly  shut  out  and  deprived  of  any  .-^hare,  vote 
or  interest,  in  the  government,  to  their  great  discourage- 
ment, and  contrary  to  tlic  laws,  i-ights,  lihcrtics,  and  ])rivi- 
leges,  of  the  subject;  sn  that  we  arc  c^tcciiKMl  a>  nothing, 
and  have  become  a  repi'uai-li  tu  tlic  iicighlidius  in  other  his 
majesty's  colonies,  wlio  tlouri>h  inuh'r  the  fruition  and  pro- 
tection of  his  majesty's  nupai-alloh'd  form  and  nicthud  of 
government  in  liis  reahii  of  Knghmd.  tlie  undoulited  l)irth- 
right  of  all  his  >ul>j('i-ts.  Whicli  neee>sitate>  u>,  in  liehalf 
of  this  your  royal  highness"  colony,  to  Itccouic  humble  >n\>- 
pliants  and  suitoi-^  to  youi-  i-o\  al  hig]nic>^  ;  praving,  and  we 
do  hereby  humbly  and  snbnii>-i vcly,  with  all  obedience, 
pray  and  beseech  your  royal  highiic>~.  that,  for  the  redress- 
ing and  removal  of  the  saiil  ui  ic\ ain'es,  the  government  of 
this  yonr  colmiy  may,  f)r  the  lului-c,  be  settled  and  estab- 
li>hcil,  lailcd  ami  go\ ci'ikmI,  by  a  governor,  council,  and  as- 
>embly  ;  which  a-~ciiibly  to  be  duly  ele<?ted  and  chosen  by 
the  freeholder>  of  this  \i>\\r  nty-A  higliiiess'  coloin-.  as  is 
usual  and  practicable  wi;h  the  i-cahii  oT  l^Mghmd.  and  oUier 
his  majesty's  plantation,-.  Which  w  ill  gi\c  great  ea>e  and 
sa;  i-l'aci  ion  to  all  his  majol \",-  >iibjecl,-  in  y(.)ur  royal 

highiie->"  colony;  whodoire  no  gi-eatei'  hap|iine--  than  the 
continuance  of  your  royal  highne--"  grace  ami  fi\'(_inr,  and 
to  be  and  remain  his  majc-t  v"-  lo\al  ami  iVcc -nbjects. 
Bv  order,  &c. 

JOHN  WEST,  Cie/'k  of  Assize. 


Of  the  Firafc,  WWhm,  Rnhl. 

William  Ividd,  who  was  connni-ioned  in  ICiH)  to  go  against 
the  ]Mrates,  who  then  infe-tcj  the  -ca-.  became'  a  ]nrate, 
sailed  to  ^ladagaM-ar,  ami  ra\a--e(|  ihe  -ra  and  the  coast 
from  the  Ked  Sea  to  the  coast  of  Malabai'  f  ir  luvirly  a  year, 
when  he  returned  with  more  valualile  >]ioil,  than  perhaps 
ever  fell  to  the  lot  of  a  pirate.  ( )n  his  way  from  the  West 
Indies  to  Boston,  he  am-hoi'ed  in  ( iai-diner's  Bay,  landed  on 
the  island,  and  bni-ie<l  a  bo\  of  gold,  silver  and  precious 
stones.  The  owm.'r  of  the  i-land  wa-  intrusted  with  the  se- 
cret, and  his  life  was  the  plei|-c  el'  it-  security.  Kidd  made 
similar  deposits  in  other  jilaces  along  the  coast.  On  Kidd's 
arrival  at  Boston,  on  the  1st  'Inly,  1009,  he  was  seized  and 


184 


committed  bv  tlie  order  of  the  Governor,  the  Earl  of  Bella- 
iiiont,  and  amoni>;  his  papers  was  found  an  accoinit  of  all  his 
deposits.  Commissioners  were  appointed  to  collect  and  se- 
cure them.  They  called  on  Mr.  Gardiner  for  the  box  that 
was  deposited  on  the  Island,  who,  after  he  was  assured  that 
Kidd  was  in  safe  custody,  and  not  likely  ao-ain  to  be  in  a 
condition  to  injure  him.  ])r.>curcd  tlu;  box  and  delivered  it 
to  the  (commissioners. 

Kidd  was  sent  to  Eii<;land  and  triecl  and  executed  May 
!Mli.  17(11. 

The  tradition  of  Kidd's  lia\iiii:-  liiii-icd  his  trcn-ures 
along- the  coast,  unaccompanied  li\  the  lii-tory  of  tlicir  dis- 
covery, has  given  rise  to  the  idK'  pi'act  icr  ot'  money  digLi'iiig, 
under  the  impression  that  those  treasures  are  still  to  be 
found. 

Anumg  the  iiai)ers  of  the  late  John  E.  (iai'diiier,  Escp,  is 
an  account  of  the  treasure  depo-itcd  un  the  Uland,  taken 
from  the  list  of  Kidd's  treasures,  which  were  secured  by 
the  commissioners,  of  which  the  following  is  a  summary  : 
deceived,  the  17th  inst.,  of  Mr.  John 
Gardiner,  three  bags  of  gold  dust, 

containing     -       -       •       -  IMoz. 
Two  bags  of  gold  bars,  contaiiung  5014 
One  do.  of  coined  gold,  do.     -      11  &  silver  124 1)^. 
One  do.  broken  silver  do.    -    -  17SI 
Two  do.  Hivcr  l.aiv    -    -    -    -  521 
One  do.  -iUi  i-  Imttoiis  and  a  lamp,  29 
One  bag  coiiraiiiing  three  silver 

rings  and  sundry  precious  stones,  4j  oz. 

One  do.  of  unpolished  stones,  -  12?2 

847.1  17^ 

One  bag  containing  one  ])iece  of  Ib-i-ti  A  and  fiezoai-  ~ti  iiies, 
two  ciiiaicliau  riiig~,  and  two  small  anafc-.  two  aiiictli\>ts. 

\\'liicli  accoiml  wa>  pi'e>ented  by  Samuel  Sewell.  Nathan- 
iel liytield,  .leremiah  Dumer  and  Andrew  llelelier,  esqs., 
connnissioners  ap|)ointed  to  receive  and  -ecane  the  same, 
under  oath,  to  the  Earl  of  Bellamont,  Governor  of  Massa- 
chusetts. 

This  is  only  a  i)art  of  the  first  of  thirteen  sheets,  in  which 
the  whole  account  was  compi  i/.ed.  a-  certified  by  H.  C. 
Addington,  Secretary  of  State.  .Inly  l'."'i1i.  1<'>1.)9. 


185 


A  li-sf  of  ill p  Gori'rnoi'K,  LirnfrDaiif  frorpri)nj'.9,  a nrl  Presi- 
de in'..' nf  fh,  Cnunr'n  ,r]n,  ,i  <l  n  ini  I  ..t,  ,1  ///-  <Jn  rr ,1  i,i ,  id  of 
the  ri,l nil  ij  anil  utiiti,  if  Js\  ic-  Vark,  froin  ir.L'U  to  tlicjires- 


ent  time. 

DUTCH  GOVEENORS. 

Wciiter  Tail  Twiller,   1629 

William  Kieft,       ------  1638 

Petur  Stuyvesant,  -  1647 

EXGLISH  GOVERNORS,  &C. 

Eieliard  ISTicolls,   1664 

Francis  Lovelace,  ------  1667 

Aiitlxinv  Colve,  on  a  recapture  of  the  province 

hy  tl,;.  Dutch,   1673 

Attn-  tliu  surrender  to  the  English,  Sir  Edmund 

Audross,       -       -       -  -       -       -  1674 

Anthonv  Brockholst,     -----  1681 

TliMi,,;,-' T).;ii-an,   1683 

El  ,  ,  .lso]i.        -----  1688 

J;  16S9 

II  -iirv  :-;u!-iiter,  -  1691 

Richard  Ino-olsbv,   1691 

Benjamin  Fletcher,       -----  1692 

Eichard,  Earl  of  Bellamont,      -       -       -       -  1698 

John  Xanfan,   1699 

L.ird  Conihurv.        ------  1702 

L.inl  hMV,-larr.  -  1708 

Richard  Ing.»l^hy,   1709 

Gerardus  Beekman,      -----  1710 

Brii^adier  Hunter,     ------  1710 

Peter  Scluivler,   1719 

William  Ihirnet,   1720 

John  Muntj^cmerie,       -----  1728 

Rip  Van  Dam,   1731 

William  Cosby,      ------  1732 

Gen,-v  Clark;   -------  1736 

Gcnr-c  Clinton,   1743 

Danv.-r>  ()>l)orn,   1753 

James  ])e  Lanccv,   1753 

Sir  Charles  Hardy,  -  1755 

James  De  Lancey,   1757 

Cadwallader  Golden,   1760 

Robert  Monkton,  -   1762 

Cadwallader  Golden,        -       -       -       -       -  1763 


186 


irenry  Moore,   ^I^^ 

Joliii,  Earl  of  Dunmore,   1T7U 

AVilliam  Tryoii,   1T71 

STATE  GOVEKNOKS. 

George  Clinton,        ------  1777 

John  Jay,     -------  1795 

George  Clinton,   1801 

Morgan  Lewis,     ------  1804: 

Daniel  D.  Tompkins.   1807 

De  Witt  Clinton,  -   1817 

the  same,      -   1820 

Joseph  C.  Yates,  ------  1822 

De  Witt  Clinton,   1824 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

State  of  the  country  at  the  tune  of  its  first  settlement,  3 

Of  the  niterfering  claims  of  the  Dutch  and  English,  5 

Of  the  settlement  of  the  Island,       .       .       ^      -  S 

Of  Trade  among  the  first  settlers,  -       -       -       -  14 

Of  the  Character  of  the  first  settlers,       -       -       -  17 

Of  the  political  condition  of  the  English  towns,    -  19 

Of  their  union  with  Connecticut,      -       -       -       -  24 

Of  the  Ecclesiastical  state  of  tlie  several  towns,     -  29 

Of  the  Indians  on  Long-Island,  -----  63 

Of  the  political  condition  of  the  several  towns  in  the 

Dutch  tei-ritorv,     ------  82 

Of  the  English  Government  after  the  conquest  in  1664 

to  the  American  Revolution,  -       -       -       -  84 


APPENDIX. 

Sketch  of  General  Woodhull,    -----  123 

 Colonel  William  Smith,  -       -       -       -  142 

 -William  Nicolls,  Esq.,       -       -       -       -  147 

Of  tlie  several  Courts,   ------  152 

Representatives  in  the  first  Convention.    -       -       -  158 

Population  at  different  periods,     -       -       -       -  161 

Climate,    ---------  163 

Treaty  of  Hartford  in  1650,  -----  167 

Remonstrance  of  the  towns  in  1655,  -       -       -       -  168 

Social  Contract  of  East  Ham|)t(»n  in  1655,    -       -  172 

Original  Dutcli  Grant  for  Jamaica.   -       -       -       -  172 

Transactions  of  Connecticut  Assembly,  -       -       -  173 

Annexation  of  Long-Island  to  New- York,  -       -       -  174 

Deputies  to  Assembly  at  Hempstead  in  1655,       -  175 

Address  of  the  Deputies,  ------  176 

Remonstrance  of  do.   177 

Remonstrance  of  Southampton  in  1670,    -       -       -  179 

Petition  of  Court  of  Assize  in  1681,      -       -       -  182 

Of  the  Pirate  Williani'Kidd,     -       -       -       -       -  183 

List  of  Governors,  to  the  present  time.  -       -       -  185' 


53 


ADDITIONS  M  THE  EDITOR, 


THE  MURDER  OF  GENERAL  WOODHULL. 


Tho  inhuman  and  brutal  slaughter  of  Gen.  Woodhull,  which  had 
properly  so  large  a  share  of  the  attention  of  Silas  Wood,  has,  of  re- 
cent years,  evoked  some  new  testimony,  which  changes  entirely  the 
direction  of  opinion  in  regard  to  its  perpetrator. 

Robert  Troup  was  a  graduate  of  Colombia  College,  by  profession 
a  lawyer,  a  man  of  sterling  piety,  and  of  most  respectable  standing  in 
societ}'.  At  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Long-Island,  he  was  a  Lieu- 
tenant in  Col.  Lasher's  battalion  of  New-York  militia,  was  made  pris- 
oner five  miles  west  of  Jamaica  on  the  27th  of  August,  the  day  of 
the  battle,  and  was  put,  with  many  other  prisoners,  on  board  a  small 
vessel  or  transport  lying  at  Gravesend,  which  had  been  employed  in 
the  transportation  of  cattle.  Afierhis  release  he  made  an  affidavit 
of  his  personal  sufferings,  which  concluded  with  the  following  re- 
cital in  relation  to  General  Woodhull : 

"That  while  he  was  confint'fl  on  board  the  said  transport,  Briga- 
dier General  Woodhull  wa>  also  Iwdn^iit  on  board,  in  a  shockingly 
mangled  condition;  that  di  poiii-nt  asked  the  General  the  particulars 
of  his  capture,  and  was  told  by  the  said  General,  that  he  had  been 
taken  by  a  [)arty  of  liglit-horse,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Oliver 
De  Lancey;  that  he  was  asked  by  the  said  Captain  if  he  would  sur- 
render; that  he  answered  in  the  affirmative,  provided  he  would  treat 
him  like  a  gentleman,  which  Captain  De  Lancey  assured  him  he 
would,  whereupon  the  General  delivered  his  sword,  and  that  imme- 
diately after,  the  said  Oliver  De  Lancey,  jr.,  struck  him,  and  others  of 
the  .said  party  imitating  his  example,  did  cruelly  cut  and  hack  him 
in  the  manner  he  then  was;  that  although  he  was  in  such  a  mangled 
and  horrible  situation,  he  had  nevertheless,  been  obliged  to  sleep  on 
the  bare  floor  of  the  said  transport,  if  a  Lieutenant  of  the  man-of- 
war  who  guarded  the  transport,  had  not  lent  him  a  mattrass ;  that 
Gen.  Woodhull  was  afterwards  carried  to  the  hospital  in  the  church 
of  New-lTtrcclit,  where  he  perished,  as  deponent  was  on  good  au- 
thority iiit'oiiiK.'d,  through  want  of  care,  and  other  necessaries;  and 
further  tlii.s  drponont  saith  not. 

"  Robert  Troup. 

"  Sworn  the  Llih  January,  1777,  before  me, 

"  Gouv.  Morris." 

64 


192 


In  after  life  Robert  Tronp  was  a  judge,  member  of  tlie  Legisla- 
ture and  warden  of  Trinity  Church.  lie  was  the  personal  friend 
and  political  associate  of  Ja}'  and  Hamilton,  and  a  man  of  stainless 
honor. 

The  above  affidavit,  which  lay  in  the  Secretary  of  State's  office, 
in  tlie  handwriting  of  Gouv.  Morris,  was  made  public  in  the  reports 
of  the  Legislature  of  this  state  in  1842.  It  was  published  in  the 
valuable  collection  of  revolutionary  incidents  of  Kings,  Queens  and 
Suffolk,  by  Henry  Onderdonk,  jr ,  and  called  forth  letters  from 
James  Fennimore  Cooper,  the  novelist,  whose  wife  was  a  daughter 
of  John  Peter  De  Lancey,  of  Mamarom  rk,  controverting  the  al- 
legation against  Oliver,  jr.  In  the  progress  of  this  discussion, 
Mr.  Cooper  calls  to  mind  a  conversation  held  by  him  with  his 
father-in-law,  in  which  the  latter  is  reported  as  saying  :  "  They  en- 
deavored to  put  the  death  of  Gen.  Woodhull  on  my  cousin.  General 
Do  Lancey,  but  Oliver  always  denied  the  same.'''' 

The  affidavit  of  an  irreproachable  and  unimpeachable  witness,  of 
statements  made  by  another  of  equally  higli  character,  if  not  in  ex- 
tremis, under  circumstances  of  at  solcinuit y,  -oon  followoil  hy 
death,  will  hardly  leave  the  iuimriliaie  iii-liiiniciitiiliiy  by  which 
General  Woodhull  suffered,  a  debaleablc  (juestion. 

The  correspondence  is  diffuse  and  ingenious  on  the  part  of  Mr. 
Cooper;  but  the  candid  reader  will  be  compelled  to  admit,  that  the 
portion  of  Mr.  Onderdonk,  is  characterised  by  close  logic  and  thor- 
ough research,  to  which  the  effort  of  tlie  challenger  lays  very  small 
claim. 


THE  SYLVESTER  FAMILY,  OF  SHELTER  ISLAND. 


Nathaniel  Sylvester,  who  was  the  first  settler  of  Shelter  Island,  and 
afterwards  the  owner  of  the  whole  Island,  was  the  son  of  the  celebrated 
poet,  Joshua  Sylvester  of  London,  who  died  in  1G17.  His  wife  was 
Grisclda  Brinley,  daughter  of  Thomas  Brinley,  of  Datchet,  Eng., 
receiver  of  revenues  under  Kings  Charles  1st  and  2d,  and  sister  of 
the  first  Francis  Brinley,  of  Newport  and  Boston.  Nathaniel  Syl- 
vester and  his  wife  must  have  come  to  this  country  about  1640.  He, 
with  others,  purchased  Shelter  Island  of  Thomas  Goodyear,  of  New- 


193 


Haven,  who  had  it  of  James  Farrett,  agent  of  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 
By  subsequent  purchases,  and  through  confiscation  by  the  Dutch,  of 
that  part  owned  by  Thomas  Middleton  and  Constant  Sylvester,  he 
was  compelled  to  purchase  the  whole  Island,  and  in  his  will,  which 
gives  an  interesting  account  of  this  transaction,  dated  1789,  he  dis- 
poses of  it,  as  well  as  Robins  Island  and  other  property  in  the  town 
of  Southold,  to  his  wife  and  children.  He  must  have  died  soon  after 
the  last  named  date,  as  is  ascertained  by  the  probate  of  his  will.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  enterprise  and  intrepidity,  and  received  and  pro- 
tected at  Shelter  Island,  a  number  of  families  of  fugitives,  from  the  in- 
sane persecutions  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts,  in  early  times,  some 
of  whom  died  on  the  Island.  This  regard  for  the  education  of  his 
children,  for  justice  and  religion,  as  well  as  for  kindness  and  benevo- 
lence is  abundantly  manifested  in  his  will,  which  is  an  elaborate  docu- 
ment and  the  only  written  memorial  he  has  left  behind.  He  had  eleven 
children,  Griselda,  the  eldest  daughter,  married  James  Lloyd,  of 
Boston  ;  they  afterwards  resided  at  "  Lloyd's  Neck,"  a  part  of  which 
she  owned  previous  to  her  marriage,  and  part  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
Lloyd.  Giles,  tlic  eldest  son,  inherited  a  large  share  of  the  Island 
by  the  bequest  of  his  father,  and  two  or  three  of  his  brothers  who 

died  unmarried.    He  married  Mrs.  Savage,  of  Boston.  He 

resided  at  Shelter  Island,  spending  much  time  also  in  New-York, 
where  he  died  in  1701,  bequeathing  his  property  on  Shelter-Island 
to  William  Nicoll,  of  Islip  ;  he  had  no  children.  Nathaniel  Sylves- 
ter, the  second  son,  sold  his  property  on  Shelter  Islatid,  being 
1,000  acres  in  the  centre  of  the  Island,  to  George  Havens,  of 
Rhode  Island,  and  removed  to  Newport.  He  married  Miss  Hobert, 
of  East  Hampton,  and  was  the  father  of  Brinley  Sylvester,  and 
three  other  children  ;  he  died  in  Newport  in  17 — .  The  other  sons 
of  the  first  Nathaniel  Sylvester  lived  and  died  on  Shelter-Island. 
One  of  his  daughters  married  Benjamin  L'Hommedieu,  of  Southold, 
a  French  Huguenot,  and  the  ancestor  of  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  a  pa- 
triot of  the  revolution,  and  one  of  the  most  distinguished  statesmen 
and  senators  of  the  state  of  New-York,  l77o  to  1809.  Brinley 
Sylvester,  grandson  of  the  first  Nathaniel,  and  son  of  the  second 
Nathaniel,  was  born  in  1694,  and  was  married  to  Mary  Burroughs, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Burroughs,  of  New-York,  in  1719.  He  re- 
moved from  Newport  in  17:^5,  and  occupied  the  mansion  of  his 
grandfather,  with  about  1,200  acres  of  land  attached  thereto,  where 


194 


he  resided  till  the  close  of  his  life.  He  erected  on  the  site  of  the 
old  building,  a  new,  commodious  and  stately  mansion,  which  is  still 
there,  and  in  good  repair,  after  a  lapse  of  a  century  and  a  quarter. 
He  was  a  man  of  intelligence,  piety  and  benevolence,  conscientious 
and  prompt  in  all  the  duties  of  life  ;  he  was  greatly  instrumental  in 
the  erection  of  the  first  building  for  public  worship  on  Shelter  Island, 
and  bequeathed  at  his  death  i-lOO  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel. 
Previous  to  the  erection  of  this  building  he  attended  the  services  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Young,  of  Southold.  He  had  two  children,  both 
daughters;  Margaret,  the  elder,  married  David  Cheescboro,  of 
Newport,  and  Mary,  the  younger,  married  Thomas  Dering,  of  Sliel- 
ter  Island.  Full  length  portraits  of  these  ladies  are  still  in  the  fam- 
ilv,  and  are  much  admired  as  specimens  of  beauty,  both  of  nature 
and  art.  The  death  of  Brinley  Sylvester,  which  occurred  in  1752, 
was  greatly  lamented,  and  in  a  sermon  preached  on  the  occasion  of 
his  death,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Phillips,  of  Southold,  which  was  printed 
in  Boston,  we  find  portrayed  a  character  of  uncommon  excellence. 
His  wife,  who  died  in  1742,  is  represented  in  memorials  which  still 
remain,  to  have  been  a  woman  of  gn  at  piety  and  benevolence. 
Their  daughter,  Mary,  was  the  last  of  the  SyKoters  on  the  Island. 

For  a  more  particular  account  of  the  Sylvester  and  Dering  fami- 
lies, see  memorials  of  the  early  settlers  of  Shelter  Island,  in  print, 
by  NicoU  U.  Dering,  M.  D. 


THE  DEKIXG  FAMILY,  OF  SHELTER  ISLAND. 


Henry  Dering,  the  Ancestor  of  this  family  in  America,  was  born 
in  Dorsetshire,  England,  August  1639.  The  exact  time  of  his 
coming  to  this  country  is  not  known,  but  it  was  in  early  life,  as  he 
was  m^trried  in  Boston,  in  1664,  to  Ann  Benning,  by  whom  he  had 
five  children.  After  her  death,  he  was  again  married  on  Nov.  15th, 
1676,  to  Elizabeth  Atkinson,  widow  of  Theodore  Atkinson,  and 
daughter  of  Edward  Mitchelson,  Provincial  .Marshal -General  of  the 
colony  of  Massachusetts,  by  whom  he  had  also  tive  children.  He 
was  a  merchant  of  Boston,  a  man  of  erudition,  rspccially  skilled  in 
ecclesiastical  learning,  as  numerous  manuscripts  abundantly  show. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Governor's  council  at  the  time  of  his 


195 


death,  in  T7l7,  and  liis  wife  dying  on  the  same  day,  they  were  both 
interred  in  a  common  grave.  One  of  his  daughters  married  William 
Welstead,  naval  officer  of  the  Port  of  Boston,  whose  son  was  the 
Rev.  Henry  Welstead,  a  distinguished  minist'^r  of  Boston.  Henry 
Bering,  his  son,  the  second  of  the  name  in  the  male  line,  was  born 
October  6th,  1684,  and  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Packer,  of  Ports- 
mouth, N.  PI.,  February  8th,  1709.  He  also  was  a  merchant  of 
Boston,  became  a  rich  man,  and  died  October  20th,  1750,  at  the 
age  of  66,  leaving  a  numerous  family.  His  daughter,  Elizabeth, 
married  Samuel  Wentworth,  and  was  the  Ancestress  of  the  cele. 
brated  authoress,  Mrs.  Gore.  His  daughter,  Anne,  married  James 
Monk,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  and  afterwards  of  Halifax,  and  was  the 
mother  of  Chief  Justice  Monk,  of  Montreal,  afterwards  Sir  James 
Monk,  one  of  whose  descendants,  S.  Cornwallis  Monk,  is  now  Judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Lower  Canada.  His  daughter,  Sarah 
married  Nathaniel  Ray  Thomas,  of  Marshfield,  Mass.,  who,  during 
the  revolutionary  war,  removed  to  Nova  Scotia,  and  some  of  their 
descendants  are  still  living  there.  Thomas  Dering,  son  of  the  last 
named  Henry  Dering,  was  born  May  16th,  1720,  and  was  married 
to  Mary  Sylvester,  daughter  of  Brinley  Sylvester,  of  Shelter  Island, 
March  9th,  1756.  He,  too,  was  a  merchant  of  Boston,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  brother  Henry,  who,  having  died  of  yellow  fever  on 
liis  return  from  the  West  Indies,  their  business  in  Boston  was  closed, 
and  he  then  removed  to  Shelter  Island,  where  he  became  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  upon  the  estate  devised  by  Brinley  Sylvester 
to  his  daughters,  successfully  cultivating  it  until  177G.  Being  natu- 
rally of  a  social  disposition,  he  greatly  enjoyed  the  pleasures  of  hos- 
pitality, and  was  always  happy  in  entertaining  his  friends,  and  espe- 
cially those  of  a  religious  character.  Clergymen  of  all  denomina- 
tions here  found  a  welcome  home,  and  twice  was  he  visited  by  the 
celebrated  George  Whitfield.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Adams  resided  at 
his  house,  and  preached  on  the  Island  for  a  number  of  years.  Hav- 
ing espoused  the  Whig  cause,  and  being  a  member  of  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  of  the  state  of  New-York,  which  reafhrmed  the  Declar- 
ation of  Independence  of  the  United  States,  he  was  obliged,  on  the 
capture  of  Long-Island  by  the  British,  to  remove  for  safety  from 
Shelter  Island,  and  Middletuwn,  Ct.,  became  his  place  of  residence 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  Ue  died  at  Shelter  Island  in  1785  ;  Mrs. 
Dering  survived  him  ten  years.  Thev  left  three  children,  Sylvester, 
55 


196 


Elizabetli,  and  Henry  Packer.  The  sons  inherited  the  landed  estate 
on  Shelter  Ishind,  that  of  their  mother,  and  their  aunt,  Margaret 
Chocseborougli.  Sylvester  Dering  became  a  permanent  resident  of 
Shelter  Island  ;  ho  was  born  Nov.  27th,  1758,  and  was  married  Nov. 
27tli,  1787,  to  Esther  Sarah  Havens,  daughter  of  Nicoll  Havens,  of 
Shelter  Island,  and  great-grand-daughter  of  William  Nicoll,  of  Islip. 
He  resided  in  the  mansion  erected  by  Brinley  Sylvester  in  1735, 
which  was  remarkable  ■  for  the  beauty  of  its  situation,  and  the 
long  avenue  of  large  cherry  trees  leading  to  it.  Mr.  Dering  was  ac- 
tively and  successfully  engaged  in  agrlrulture.  He  was  the  first  to 
introduce  the  breed  of  merino  slu  t'iJ  into  the  country,  and  derived 
much  profit  from  the  sale  of  tiic  iiM  rcasc,  and  of  the  wool.  He 
was,  soon  after  the  war,  commissinniMl  hy  (iov.  George  Clinton  as 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  served  fail lit'ully  I'M'  many  years  as  Colonel 
and  Brigadier  General  in  the' militia,  whirli  hi'  -really  imjuoved  in 
discipline.  He  was  also,  by  the  ai>iiniiitineiit  of  rresiileiit  Madison, 
made  principal  assessor  of  the  l>i  ('uiiuies>iii:i,il  l>i>tii.  t  of  New- 
York.  He,  too,  was  social  in  his  cli>[Misiti(>n,  and  was  greatly  de- 
lighted to  entertain  his  friends,  and  being  an  elder  in  the  church, 
his  house  was  the  frequent  resort  of  clergymen,  many  of  whom  were 
his  intimate  friends.  He  died  from  the  effect  of  an  injury  received 
by  the  fall  of  his  horse,  Oct.  8th,  1820,  in  the  62d  year  of  his  age. 
His  widow  survived  him  19  years.  Henry  Packer  Dering,  although 
retaining  possession  of  his  landed  estate  on  Shelter  Island,  where 
be  erected  commodious  and  expensive  buildings,  resided  at  Sag- 
Harbor.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1784,  after  which,  for  a 
few  years,  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  which  he  relinquished 
in  1790,  on  being  appointed  by  President  Washington  collector  of 
the  customs  and  post  master  at  Sag  Harbor,  which  offices  he  retain- 
ed to  the  close  of  his  life,  during  a  period  of  30  years.  He  was 
most  actively  engaged  in  attending  to  these  and  many  minor  oflBces, 
and  in  directing  the  affairs  of  his  farm.  He  enjoyed  through  life  a 
high  reputation  for  hospitality  and  the  cultivation  of  tiie  amenities 
of  life,  as  well  as  for  integrity  and  talents  for  business.  He  married 
Anna  Fos  Jick,  daughter  of  Dr.  Thomas  FosJick,  of  New  London, 
in  1794,  who  survived  him  25  years.    He  died  in  1822,  aged  59. 

Charles  Thomas  Dering,  eldest  son  of  Sylvester  Dering,  was  born 
Nov.  I7th,  1790.  He  married  Eliza  Floyd  Nicoll,  daughter  of 
Samuel  B.  Nicoll,  of  Shelter  Island,  Aug.  I7th,  18 IG.    He  early  en- 


197 


gaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  first  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  afterwards  in 
Hamilton,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.  Here,  in  1813,  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Madison  collector  of  internal  revenue.  In  1819  he  re- 
moved to  Sag  Harbor,  where  he  entered  upon  the  whaling  business, 
in  which  he  was  successfully  engaged  until  near  the  close  of  his 
life.  He,  too,  enjoyed  the  pleasures  of  friendship  and  hospitality, 
and  was  highly  esteemed  for  the  strictness  of  his  integrity  and  the 
soundness  of  his  judgment.  Nicoll  H.  Dering,  second  son  of  Syl- 
vester, was  born  January  1st,  1794  ;  he  graduated  at  Yale  College 
in  1813,  and  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  in  New- 
York,  in  1817,  was  appointed  commissioner  of  health  for  the  city 
of  New-York  in  1818.  He  was  married,  first,  to  Frances  Huntington, 
daughter  of  Henry  Huntington,  of  Rome,  N.  Y.,  June  6th,  1826,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  children ;  secondly,  to  Sarah  H.  Strong,  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  Strong,  of  New-York,  Oct.  1st,  1844.  He  was  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  the  practice  of  physic,  in  the  city  of  New-York, 
until  1843,  when  he  removed  to  Rome,  N.  Y.,  and  afterwards  to 
TJtica,  where  he  still  resides. 

Henry  Sylvester  Dering,  third  son  of  Sylvester  Dering,  was  born 
Sept.  29th,  1804.  He  graduated  as  doctor  of  medicine,  at  the  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  in  New-York,  in  1829,  and  soon 
commenced  the  practice  of  physic  at  Setanket,  Long-Island,  where 
he  still  resides.  He  married  H.  Eliza  Hulsc,  April  29th,  1839,  and 
has  had  six  children. 

Heniy  P.  Dering,  of  Sag  Harbor,  had  nine  children.  The  eldest, 
Thomas,  was  collector  of  the  customs  at  Sag  Harbor  for  many  years, 
and  afterwards  filled  responsible  offices  in  New-York  and  New  Lon- 
don. He  married  Gloriana  Havens,  daughter  of  Renselaer  Havens, 
of  New-York.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  piety,  probity  and  high 
sense  of  honor,  in  all  the  aff"airs  of  life.  Brinley  Sylvester  Dering, 
second  son  of  Henry  P.  Dering,  was  lost  at  sea  in  early  manhood. 
Lodowick,  third  son  of  Henry  P.  Dering,  was  a  merchant  of  Sag- 
Harbor ;  he  married  Eliza  Mulford,  daughter  of  Mr.  Mulford,  of 
Easthampton,  L.  L,  and  died  in  1860,  leaving  two  sons,  Henry 
Packer  and  Edward. 

Nicoll  R.  Dering,  fourth  and  youngest  son  of  Henry  P.  Dering, 
became  the  captain  of  a  whaling  shi})  out  of  Sag  Harbor,  and  now 
resides  in  California.  The  daughters  of  Henry  P.  Dering  were, 
Frances,  Gloriana,  Elizabeth  Packer,  and  Charlotte,  the  last-named 
married  to  William  R.  Sleight,  of  Sag  Harbor. 


198 


S_\l\cster  Bering,  only  son  of  Dr.  Nicoll  H.  Dcring,  was  born 
March  12tli,  1838.  He  was  married  to  Ella  V.  Hristol,  daughter  of 
AVillis  Bristol,  of  New  Haven,  Ct.,  Feb.  24th,  18G4.  He  is  a  law- 
yer in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  a  Brigadier  General  of  the  National  Guard. 
The  daughters  of  Nicoll  H.  Dering,  arc  Annie  Huntington,  married 
to  Charles  S.  Wilson  of  Utica,  Sarah  Sylvester,  Catherine  Mary, 
and  Frances  Huntington. 

Charles  T.  Dering,  eldest  son  of  Dr.  Henry  S.  Dering,  was  born 
in  1843.  He  graduated  at  Hamilton  College,  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  in 
1864.  Henry,  second  son  of  Henry  S.  Dering,  is  still  a  youth  ;  his 
daughters  are  Sarah,  Frances,  and  Mary  Sylvester.  For  a  more 
particular  account  of  the  Dering  and  Sylvester  families,  see  memo- 
rials of  the  early  settlers  of  Shelter  Island  in  print,  by  Nicoll  H. 
Dering,  M.  D. 


Co2)y  original  Deed  of  a  jmrfinn  nt  Smithtown,  L.  Z,  in 
possession  of  the  Lomj  /■•<hin<l  ll'isforical  Society : 

Easthampton,  July  14th,  1659. 
Bee  it  knowne  unto  all  men,  both  English  and  Indians,  especially 
the  inhabitduts  of  Long-Island:  that  I,  Wayandance  Sachame,  of 
Pamanack,  with  my  wife  and  soun  Wiankanln.iK',  my  only  sonn  and 
heire,  hrtveinge  delyberately  considered  how  this  twentie-foure  years 
wee  have  bene  not  only  acquainted  with  Lion :  Gardiner,  but  from 
time  to  time  have  reseived  much  kindnes  of  him  and  from  him, 
not  onely  by  counsell  and  advice  in  our  prosperitie,  but  in  our  great 
cxtremytie,  when  wee  were  almost  swallowed  upp  of  our  enemies, 
then  wee  say  he  apeared  to  us  not  onely  a  friend,  but  as  a  father, 
in  giveiuge  us  his  monie  and  goods,  wherby  wee  defemled  ourselves, 
and  ransomd  my  daughter  and  friends,  and  wee  say  and  know  that 
by  his  meanes  we  had  great  comfort  and  releife  from  the  most  hon- 
arable  of  the  English  nation  beare  about  us;  soe  that  seinge  wee 
yet  live,  and  both  of  us  beinge  now  ould,  and  not  that  wee  at  any 
time  have  given  him  any  thinge  to  gratific  his  fatherly  love,  care 
and  charge,  we  haveinge  nothing  left  tliat  is  worth  hi^  ai  eejitance 
but  a  small  tract  of  land  which  wee  desire  him  to  Acc  ept  of  for  him- 
sclfe,  his  heires,  executors  and  assignes  forever;  now  that  it  may  bee 
knowne  how  and  where  that  land  lieth  on  Long  Island,  we  say  it 
lieth  betwene  Huntington  and  Seatacut,  the  westerne  bounds  being 


199 


Cowliarbor,  easterly  Arhata  a  munt,  and  soiifherly  crosse  the  Island 
to  the  end  of  the  great  hollow  or  valley,  or  more,  then  half  through 
the  Island  southerly;  and  that  this  gift  is  our  free  act  and  deede, 
doth  appeare  by  our  hand-martcs  under  writ. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of 
Witnes  :  Wayandance,  his  88  mark. 

EiCHAED  Smtxhk.  Wiankomdone,  his  M  mark. 

Thomas  Chatfield.  The  sachem's  wife,  her  Swq  mark. 

Thomas  Tallmage. 


FIRST  .MOVEMENTS  OF  SETTLEMENT. 


The  hark  Blessing,  built  by  Governor  Winthrop,  at  Mistick,  in 
1G31,  returned  October  2d,  1634,  from  a  voyage  southward  to  "the 
Dutch  plantation  upon  Hudson's  river,"  having  made  "  a  further 
discovery  of  that  [land]  called  Long-Island.  There  they  procured 
Wampampeag,  both  white  and  blue,"  &c.  Hubbard's  N.  E.,  page 
171. 

This  was  followed,  in  1640,  by  the  first  settlement  on  the  eastern 
part  of  the  Island,  at  Socth-iiold,  by  a  purchase  of  the  land,  (ac- 
cording to  the  same  authority,)  by  "some  of  New-Haven,"  [from 
the  Indians,]  "  without  the  legal  basis  of  a  patent,"  who  disposed 
of  it  to  the  settlers  on  condition  of  their  union  with  New-Haven. 

South-Hampton  was  settled,  soon  after,  by  the  company  of  Daniel 
How,  who  had  been  driven  with  their  vessel,  by  the  Dutch,  from 
Cow  Bay,  (in  North  Hempstead,  Queens  County,  now  Manhassett,) 
where  they  had  made  a  clearing,  and  erected  some  small  houses. 

The  deed  of  Farret,  as  deputy  of  the  Earl  of  Stirling,  is  dated 
April  17,  1640.  The  examination  of  the  Cow  Bay  intruders,  under 
arrest  of  the  Dutch,  commenced  on  the  16th  May  following,  and  on 
the  19th  they  were  discharged  upon  their  pledge  to  leave  the  terri- 
tory of  the  Dutch.    (Colonial  Hist.  N.  Y.,  Vol.  2,  page  144  to  150. 

The  deed  of  Farret  gives  How  and  associates  choice  of  eight 
miles  square,  to  improve  and  enjoy,  and  is  approved  by  Gov.  Win- 
56 


200 


throp,  with  some  comments  on  its  provisions,  by  a  memorandum 
thereon,  dated  October  20th,  1C41.  Under  this  deed,  failing  at  Cow 
B;n-,  they  settled  at  Southampton. 

A  protest  made  by  Farret,  before  Gov.  Winthrop,  at  Boston,  Sept. 
28,  1641,  against  Edward  Tomlyns,  Timothy  Tomlyns  and  Hansard 
Knovvles,  and  others,  who  are  referred  to  as  having  taken  possession 
of  "  some  part  of  Long-Island,"  without  authority  from  the  Earl, 
and  warning  them  and  their  tenants  against  ejectments,  is  set  forth 
in  full  by  James  Savage  in  a  note  to  Winthrop's  Journal,  Vol.  2, 
page  5,  and  in  Thompson's  Hist.  L.  I.,  Vol.  2,  page  52.  Mr.  Sav- 
age wonders  that  this  document  did  not  attract  the  attention  of 
Silas  Wood,  and  he  and  Thompson  both  assume  that  it  applies  to 
the  conveyance  under  which  the  futile  settlement  at  Cow  Bay  was 
made.  The  names  of  the  parties  protested  against  do  not  appear 
in  the  deed  to  How,  nor  among  the  settlers,  nor  were  they  mention- 
ed in  the  examination  before  the  Dutch  Director.  I  think  there  is 
a  mistake  of  location. 

The  first  patents  from  the  Dutch,  on  the  west  end  of  the  Island, 
were  of  Flatlands,  and  the  other  flat  districts  in  its  vicinity,  in  1636, 
(the  Dutch  from  the  Netherlands  naturally  preferring  such  lands,) 
though  there  was  but  little  tillage  or  improvement  by  farm  laborers 
or  other  settlers,  until  after  1640.  The  name  "  Sewanhacky," 
(Island  of  Shells,  or  shell  money,)  appears  in  one  of  these  early 
patents. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

1.  Portrait  of  Silas  Wood,  from  a  miniature  on  ivory. 

2.  Place  of  his  Birth,  at  West  Hills. 

3.  Residence  for  many  years,  and  place  of  his  Decease,  in  the 

village  of  Huntington. 


EXTENDED  INDEX. 


PAGE. 

Address  of  Deputies  at  Hempstead,  1665,   176 

Adjacent  Islands,   26 

Additions  by  the  Editor,   189 

Advertisement,  Object  of  Republication,   2 

America,  Discovery  of,   5 

Amersfort,  (Flatlands,)  8,  13 

Annexation  OF  Long  Island  to  New-York,   1*74 

Appendix,  Contents  of,   187 

Assemblies,  Colonial,  1681,   101 

Assembly  and  Council,  Members  of,  from  1691  to  1775,. ..  158 

Attorney,  Power  ob",  to  Farret,  ,   6 

Boundaries  of  Dutch  and  English  Territory,   11 

Boundaries,  Commissioners  to  fix,   27 

Brookhaven,  13,  14,  24 

Brooklyn,  10,  13,  83,  87 

British  Conquest,  1664,   88 

Bushwick,   87 

Canoe  Place,   63 

Cattle,  4,  8 

Churches,..  29  to  63 

Civil  and  Political  Condition  of  English  Towns,   19 

Claims,  Dutch  and  English,   5 

Clearing  Lands,   3 

Climate,   3 

Colony  Assembly,  the  First,   101 

Common  Law,  23,  24 


202 


PACK. 

Connecticut,  Union  of  Towns  with,  25,  26,  28,  87 

Contents,  Author's  Table  of,   187 

Corn,   5 

Courts,  2:^,27,  101,  102,  152  to  158 

Clerks,                                                                155,  150,  157 

Climate,   1G3,  1G4,  1G5,  16G 

Debts  Paid  in  Produce,   15 

Deputies  to  General  Assembly  at  IIemi  stead,   175 

Discovery  by  Hudson,   7 

Delancy,  Oliver,  jr.,   191 

Dering  Family,  of  Shelter  Island,  194  to  198 

Duke's  Government,  Tyranny  of,   91 

Duke's  Goverkmekt,  liEsroaATioN  ok,   99 

Duke's  Laws,   89 

Dutch  Settlements,  Extent  of,   8 

Dutch  Towns,  Polhical  Condition  of,   81 

Dutch  Government,  Tyranny  of,   85 

Dutch  Re-conquest,  1073,   97 

Dutch  Surrender,  1064,   28 

Dutch  Churches  and  Ministers,  29,  30,  31 

Earl  of  Stirling,  Patent  to,    7 

Easthampton,  13,  14,  15,  IG,  17,  18,  20,  21,  22,  23,  25,  27 

Easthampton,  Social  Contract  of,   172 

Ecclesiastical  State  of  Towns,  29  to  03 

English  Towns  under  the  Dutch,   84 

English  Churches  and  Ministers,  31  to  G3 

English  Government,  from  Conquest  to  Revolution,  88  to  91 

Estimates  of  Value  to  Stock,  1665,   16 

Evacuation  of  Long-Island,   119 

Field  Officers  and  Captains,  New-York  Troops,   140 

Field  Officers  and  Captains,  Long-Island  Militia,   141 

First  Child  Born  on  Long-Island,   10 

First  Purchase  from  Indians,   7 

Flatlands,  13,  87 

Flatbusii,  13,  87 

Flushing  10,14,  63 

Fort  Neck,  Battle  of,   75 

Fresh  Pond,   63 


203 


PAGE. 

Gardiner,  Lyon,   9 

Gardiner's  Island,  9,  13 

Gospel,  Support  of,   22 

Governors  FKOM  1029  to  1824,   ,  180,  181 

Gravesend,    4,  10,  13,  15,  28,  74,  87 

Great  Neck,   10 

Hartford,  Treaty  of  1650,   167 

FIempstead,  3,  4,  10,  13,  14,  15,  17,  18,  22,  24,  65 

How's  Bay,    11 

How,  Captain  Daniel,   11 

Hudson's  Discovery,  1609,   7 

Huguenots,    9 

HuNTtNGTON,  3,  4,  1 3,  14,  15,  16,  18,  21,22,  26 

Improvements,  First,   3 

Independents  or  Presbyterians,   IS 

Indians,                  >   3 

Indian  Language,   70 

Indian  Preachers,   73 

Indians,  First  Purchases  from,   7 

Indian  Tribes  on  the  Island,   63 

Indians,  Political  State  of,   64 

Indians,  Religion  of,  ... .   70 

Indians,  Measures  to  Preserve  Peace  with,   71 

Introductory  Note,  3,  4 

ISLIP   14 

Jamaica,  Dutch  Grant  of,    172 

Jamaica,  5,  10,  13,  14,  15,  63 

Jones,  David,  (speaker),   158 

Judges  and  Justices,  155,  156,  157 

KiDD,  Wm.,  THE  Pirate,  x\ccouNT  of,  .'    183 

Laws,   20 

Legislative  Hardships  of  Taxation  after  the  war   122 

Leisler,  Jacob,  106  to  112 

Little  Neck,   11 

Lloyd's  Neck,   120 

Long-Island,  7,26,  27 

Long-Island  Sound,   7 


204 


Mason,  John,  Capt.,   77 

MiDDLEiiURcui,  (Newtown,)  .1^,  82 

]\IiDwouT,  (Flatbi  sh,)  ,   13 

MiLBOURN,  Major,    108 

Militia,   18 

Ministers,  Dutch,  29,  30,  31 

Ministers,  English,  31  to  03 

Montauk,  9,  G3,  70 

Moodv,  Lady,   87 

Narrative  and  Remonstrance  Hempstead,  1G65,   177 

Nassau  Island  Named  by  Statute,   G5 

New-England  Affords  Protection,   11 

New-England  Colonies,   25 

New  Patent,  Southampton  Against,   182 

Newtown,  3,  4,  10,  13,  14,  1.5,  03 

New-Utrecht,  13,  83,  87 

New-York  takes  Jurisdiction,   28 

Nichols,  William,  Sketch  of,  147  to  152 

Ninigret,  Narraganset  Chief,   07 

Oysterbay,  4,  n,  12,  13,  14,  18,  24 

Officers  with  Gen.  Woodhull,   142 

Patchogue,   03 

Patents  of  Land,  Dutch,   7 

Patents  of  Land,  English,   0 

Paumanacke,  (Long-Island,)   05 

Petition  for  an  Assembly,    178 

Population  AT  Different  Periods,   101 

Presbyterians  or  Independents,   18 

Prices,  :   17 

« 

Remonstrance,  Southampton,  1070,   179 

Remonstrance  of  Dutch  Towns,  1053,   108 

Representatives,  First  C^wextiox,   159 

Representatives  in  Provim  i al  <  Ongress,   100 

Restoration  of  Duke's  Govki;xment,   99 

Revenue,  Public,   113 

Revolutionary  War   119 

Ridings  of  Yorkshire,  ,  88,  89 


205 


ROCKAWAY,   63 

RusTDORP,  (Jamaica,)  13,  82 

Scout's  Bay,   11 

Setauket,   63 

Settlement  of  L.  1  8,  10,  13 

Settlement,  First  Movements  OF,   199,  200 

Settlement,  Legal  Right  of,   5 

Settlements  in  New-England,   8 

Shelter-Island,  9,  13,  14,  63,  98 

Shell  Banks,   64 

Smith,  Col.  Wm.,  Sketch  of,  142  to  147 

Smithtown,  14,  68 

Smithtown,  Indian  Deed  of,   198 

Southampton,  4,  13,  14,  15,  17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  23,  24,  25,  27,  63 

South-hold,  3,  9,  13,  14,  17,  20,  24,  25,  27,  63,  74 

Siikling,  Earl  of,   ,  6 

Sylvesters,    9 

Sylvester,  Family  of;   192,193,  194 

Taxation  and  Representation,   94 

Thompson,  Col.,  Count  Rumford,   121 

Timber,     3 

Tribute  by  Indians  to  English,  ...    66 

Troup,  Robert,  Affidavit  of,   191 

Underhill,  Capt.  John,  76  to  79 

Union  with  Connecticut,   24 

Vlissingen,  (Flushing,)   13 

Wading  River,.  .   63 

Wampum,   69 

War  of  the  Revolution,   119 

West  Hills,    vi 

Witchcraft,   24 

Wood,  Jonas,     v 

Wood,  Silas,  Sketch  of,  from  v  to  xxi 

Woodhull,  General  Nathaniel,  Sketch  of, .  .  .  .from  120  to  139 

Woodhull,  General  Nathaniel,  Murder  of,   191 

Youngs,  Rev.  John,  34,35,  36 


ERRATA. 

On  -Itli  paijc,  lotli  line,  for  "  twenty  shillings"  read  ten  shillings  a 
load. 

On  5th  page,  bottom  line,  before  the  note,*  read  North  America 
from  30  to  58  degrees,  instead  of  "  from  38  to  58  degrees" 
of  N.  Lat.  was  discovered  by  Sebastian  Cabot. 

On  46th  page,  L'Tth  line  from  top,  for  "among  the  town  records  of 
Newton,"  read  Newtown. 


